http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/ DOSSIER: Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah
Power play in Kuwait signals rising clout of radical Islam in Gulf "We are going to see an Islamic and more conservative government in Kuwait, at least in the short term," a Western diplomatic source said. "Sabah wants his regime to be bolstered by the Islamic opposition." Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah Task: New emir of Kuwait Age: 76 Whereabouts: Kuwait City The new emir of Kuwait, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, has installed a fiercely Islamic cabinet that plans to embrace Hamas and other groups sympathetic to Al Qaida. The formula of revised power arrangements, bolstered by Islamic endorsement, could be replicated in such countries as Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Over the long term, these developments could be bad news for the U.S. military presence in Kuwait. The United States has more than 15,000 troops and the use of several military bases in the sheikdom. Washington has sought to reform Kuwait's military and security forces to fight Al Qaida and Islamic terrorism, which has targeted U.S. and British soldiers. Sabah has become the new power broker in Kuwait. On Jan. 29, he wrested power from the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Saad Al Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah. Then, with help from parliamentary leaders, he consolidated his authority by appointing members of Sabah's Al Jaber wing to key government posts. "We are going to see an Islamic and more conservative government in Kuwait, at least in the short term," a Western diplomatic source said. "Sabah wants his regime to be bolstered by the Islamic opposition." The new emir has appointed his brother, Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, as the new crown prince. Until now, the Al Salem and Al Jaber branches of the ruling family alternated occupying the post of emir. If a member of one branch were the emir, the other branch would be given the position of crown prince. But in January, the Al Jaber branch succeeded in removing Saad, who reigned as emir for only one week. Saad, who took over from the late Emir Jaber on Jan. 15, was removed because of ill health. Saad, a member of the Al Salem clan, was replaced by Sabah, who as prime minister was the de facto ruler for the last five years. Since then, Sabah has appointed members from his branch to top positions. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah named his half brother, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to be the new Crown Prince of Kuwait on Feb. 7. Reuters/Stephanie McGehee Nawaf, 69, had been acting prime minister since Sabah was named emir in January. Nawaf, who was also interior minister, comes from the Al Jaber clan. Sabah also appointed another member of the Al Jaber clan, Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmad Al Sabah, as prime minister. He had been a minister in charge of the royal court. As a result, the Al Jaber clan remains in control of virtually every senior post in the 16-member cabinet. These include the defense, energy and interior ministers. The foreign minister, Mohammed Al Sabah, comes from the Al Salem clan. The price Sabah paid for his unprecedented accumulation of power was to placate the Islamic movement. Sabah booted liberals from the cabinet and replaced them with ministers aligned with such organizations as Hamas and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. "Ever since his appointment as prime minister in July 2003, Sheik Sabah's power and reach in the state and the economy had gone unchecked by the emir or by peers in his family," said Mary Ann Tétreault, a professor of international affairs at Trinity University in San Antonio, and author of two books about Kuwaiti politics. Sabah hasn't appointed the Islamists to the crucial posts of foreign minister and defense minister. Instead, the Islamists would be involved in strictly domestic issues such as education and social welfare. Former parliamentarian Ismail Al Shatti, head of the Brotherhood-aligned Islamic Constitutional Movement, was named communications minister. Ali Al Jarrah would be the minister responsible for social affairs and labor. Al Jarrah replaced a prominent liberal, Faisal Al Hajji. And Adel Al Tabtabaei would ensure that all Kuwaiti children are given with suitable Islamic education. This, after his predecessor Rashid Al Hamad sought to introduce a pluralistic curriculum that removed Al Qaida philosophy from the teachings. Sabah also gave more than a nod to the huge Shi'ite minority in Kuwait, reported at more than 45 percent. For the first time since 1992, the cabinet includes two Shi'ite members. AFP/Yasser Al-Zayyat Kuwaiti officials described Nasser as a devoted follower of the Brotherhood. He has been a leading proponent of reverting the sheikdom from being the most liberal Gulf Arab country to something more akin to Saudi Arabia. "For the Al Sabah family, democracy is not a strategy," said Isa Al Sarraf, a leading opposition figure. "It is a tactic." The new cabinet in Kuwait would be ripe to receive Hamas. Despite concern by the United States, Hamas has overcome Arab and Islamic hesitation and is being welcomed by numerous allies of Washington. Hamas leader Khaled Masha'al, regarded by the State Department as a leading terrorist, has been invited to Egypt, Qatar and preparing to visit Jordan, Kuwait and other Arab allies of the United States. Sabah also gave more than a nod to the huge Shi'ite minority in Kuwait, reported at more than 45 percent. For the first time since 1992, the cabinet includes two Shi'ite members. Yusef Al Zalzalah, a Shi'ite believed close to Iran, was appointed commerce and industry minister; Al Zalzalah, who pledged to present a strategic development plan by the end of February, replaced liberal Abdullah Al Tawil. The fall of Saad came slowly. As crown prince, Saad took a leading role when Iraq captured Kuwait in 1990 and after the U.S. liberated the sheikdom a year later. Saad served as both crown prince and prime minister and facilitated decrees that restricted the media and established a separate court to try cabinet ministers accused of crimes. Amid the rule of a weak Jaber, Saad became the enforcer of the royal family. He threatened to dissolve parliament when its opposition became too vocal. Another winner in the cabinet reshuffle is Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, a U.S.-educated rising star in the ruling family. In a move that could place him in a position to seek the emirship, Mubarak was promoted to first deputy prime minister and as defense and interior minister is responsible for military and security in Kuwait. "The most remarkable appointment was Sheik Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad, a descendant of Mubarak through a third son, who takes three important roles: first deputy prime minister and holder of two ministerial portfolios, interior and defense," said Tétreault in a report. "The late Emir Sheik Jaber Al Ahmad, his predecessor Sheik Sabah Al Salem, and his successor Sheik Saad Al Salem all had held one or more domestic security posts before their appointments to the crown princeship," she wrote. Nasser, fluent in English and French, has all the credentials for being pro-Western. A nephew of Sabah, Nasser went to London for high school. In Geneva, he obtained a diploma in French language studies and later a degree in political science and economics from Geneva University in 1964. Nasser began his career in Kuwait's diplomatic service. He learned Farsi and in 1968 became Kuwait's ambassador to Iran. In the 1990s, Nasser served as the closest aide to Sabah, both in the Foreign Ministry as well as prime minister. Kuwait has the means to carry out virtually any policy. The sheikdom, which sits on 10 percent of proven global oil reserves, has accumulated a budget surplus of more than $50 billion. Sabah's success has made enemies in the Al Salem clan. His biggest challenge could come from Salem Al Ali Al Salem, chief of the National Guard, one of the largest forces in Kuwait. Last year, Salem proposed forming a ruling committee to succeed Emir Jaber. That panel was to have been composed of Saleh, Sabah and Mubarak Abdallah Al Ahmad, a highly respected member of the family. Sabah, however, opposed any scenario in which he would not be the sole ruler. He delayed any discussion of a solution until the emir died. Then, Sabah moved to depose the new emir, Saad, and consolidate power. "Competition between the two branches also could revive if an Al Salem were to demonstrate excellence as a minister and become a credible contender for the prime minister's job," Tétreault said. -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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