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Inside the Middle East
November 29, 2010
Posted: 1055 GMT
WikiLeaks document: Saudi King Abdullah told an Iranian official: 'You as Persians have no business meddling in Arab matters.'
WikiLeaks document: Saudi King Abdullah told an Iranian official: 'You as Persians have no business meddling in Arab matters.'

By Tim Lister, CNN

(CNN) - U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by the website WikiLeaks and published by newspapers in the United States and Europe on Sunday reveal considerable anxiety among the Gulf states about Iran's nuclear program, with the Bahrain's king warning, "The danger of letting it go on is greater than the danger of stopping it."

The cables, many marked "Secret," were among several hundred thousand obtained by WikiLeaks and published by newspapers Sunday.

They reveal great concern among Arab states about Iran's regional ambitions. One cable describes a meeting between Saudi King Abdullah and White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan and other U.S. officials in March 2009.

According to the cable, the king told the Americans what he had just told the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki. "You as Persians have no business meddling in Arab matters," the Saudi monarch was quoted as telling Mottaki. "Iran's goal is to cause problems," he told Brennan. "There is no doubt something unstable about them." Read full story...

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Filed under: Bahrain •Egypt •Iran •Iraq •Oman •Saudi Arabia •U.K. •U.S.


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Filipe   November 29th, 2010 2:26 pm ET

"There is no doubt something unstable about them."

What a brilliant deduction!

chocofudges   November 29th, 2010 2:36 pm ET

The Arab states don't think that nuclear weapons are a threat to them. None actually believe Iran would attack them with nukes.

They are only feigning "danger" and fear because they want to be the main power heads in the region, and do not want Iran to be the main "inspiration" in the Middle East but rather want themselves to be the key figures (the same idea for why the Egyptian president photo shopped the picture so that it looked like he was leading the foreign diplomats to the Palestinian/Israeli discussion when in fact he was lagging behind)

Shi'a Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia have been rivals for years, both claiming to follow Islam correctly, both sending forces to Yemen to fight each other, etc. This is nothing new. The only difference is Saudi Arabia kowtows to America, and so by claiming that Iran is a threat to it, it tries to encourage attacks on Iran not because a threat exists but because of the rivalry and animosity that has existed between the two for decades. Saudi Arabia says Iran has no right to meddle in Arab affairs; it is partly right, but stability in the Middle East means everyone discussing, negotiating, and sharing their affairs.

By the way, I do not believe Iran is making nukes. Lets pretend, though, that it did. It would not use them on Israel. Why?

1. Israel is at least 20% Arab, most of which say they are Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.

2. Ahmadinejad never said he wished to wipe out Israel; rather, he said he wished the zionist entity never existed, that it was nonexistent in the pages of history (wishing it never happened). This is very different from saying one wishes to destroy something.

3. The whole point of him wishing Israel never existed is so that the Palestinians never lost their land. If you nuke the land and make everything radioactive, who is going to live there? It is counter-intuitive.

Hamid Kaber   November 29th, 2010 6:37 pm ET

I find it curious that the only examples CNN provides re the wiki leaks, are communications that embarrass and endanger our allies– and not a word re comments made by our own government that might embarrass us.

This unfortunately is the kind of timid (I'm being generous) reporting we have come to expect from CNN. Noting that would help to shape public debate or better inform viewers as to the real issues.

I would be surprised if you have the courage to post this.

Ariely   November 29th, 2010 6:57 pm ET

The wikileak disclosed that Arabs leaders are not tacking open and direct responsibility for the world safety.
Their habit is to demand and get all type of benefits without any resiprocity.

Islamists are trying to use the cables to get immunity and develop Iran NUKS and missile capabilities.

The political cables are not the main treat to the world.

Imagine how it will be to leave in a world that terrorists will get immunity from Iran NUK.
Imagine a world in which the Islamist Iran will control the Meade East.

One of the main benefits from the disclosed cables could be if the Arab leaders will have the guts to stand openly against Islamic Iran, will confront Islamism and contribute openly their share in the effort.

Arabs request to America to stop Iran is not a surprise.
It has historic and religious roots.
*The Persian Empire conquered the Meadle east.
Persian- Arabs are old rivals.
*The Shia- Sunni religious Islam conflict dates a millennium.

*The Islamist Iran is the main strategic enemy to the Arab world.

The diplomatic cables dint disclosed any will form the Arab countries to take responsibility and contribute to stop Iran.

–The cables are used by Islamist either Iranian stile or Sunni (Muslim brotherhood, AL-Qaida) to divert the focus from the militant Islamism goal-
ONE RELIGION-ISLAM:ONE GOVERNMENT-CALIFAT:ONE LAW-SHARIA
Imposed worldwide by sward.

Smith in Oregon   November 29th, 2010 11:11 pm ET

It appears Israeli agents are involved in what is being leaked to Wikileaks. Virtually no mention in Wikileaks about Israel even thou a great deal of discussion that takes place in and by the US State Dept. is in result of Israel's intense pressure and lobbying for America to attack Iran. The comments reaching Wikileaks entirely appear to be cherry picked to further a Zionist war drumming agenda.

The evidence that Israeli spys had stolen the entire database, blue prints and schematics for America's F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet costing the American taxpayers some 170 BILLION dollars, not even mentioned in Wikileaks. A full 15 years of US Military technology breakthru's all gone in the blink of a eye, evidence and signature it was Israeli Spys that stole it, not one mention in Wikileaks. Further evidence that Israel is directly involved in what reaches Wikileaks.

miriam   November 30th, 2010 7:50 am ET

Smith,

Israel does feature in Wikileaks documents however, as opposed to those concerneing other countries, there is little new information since the fact that Israel is a free society with open and free media, most of the information was leaked long ago and most of what is said in private is the same as is said in public.

What is evident is that Israel has been far less forceful and blunt in its discussions in how to deal with Iran.

Let's just wait and see if your F-35 conspiracy theories come up in future Wikileak documents. I'm not holding my breath.

miriam   November 30th, 2010 8:10 am ET

chocofudges,

You do not understand the Iranian leadership's theological mind-set.

Not only is Israel 20% Arab, although not all are Muslim, a nuclear attack on Israel would also effect Gaza, the PA, Jordan, Lebanon and possibly other surrounding states.

That does not worry the Iranian leaders since they believe that nuclear destruction will clear the path for the coming of the 12th Imam, the Messiah, whose return has to be preceeded by chaos and destruction.
They believe that if Muslims are killed in the process they will die as martyrs although it is also believed that some may miraculously survive.

There is little difference between expressing the desire to see a nation cease to exist and wiping it out. Both wish for the removal of the Jewish state, deny history and if Jews were allowed to remain, certainly justify religious suppression, discrimination and dhimitude as required by the Koran.

Ahmadinejad doesn't care much for the Palestinians. They are a useful tool in his effort to remove the Jewish state in order to extend the Caliphate throughout the ME and beyond, whether contaminated with nuclear material or not.

John A   November 30th, 2010 9:39 am ET

An observation about wikileaks

When they leak what the western media want you to hear, they are seriously quoted on issues such as N.Korea & Saudi Arabia.

When they leak what the western media doesn't you want to hear, the founder of Wikileaks, Mr. Julian Assage is accused of being a rapist in a massive media smear campaign.

When all the leaks have finished, we might be able to gain a clearer picture. But clearly at this point in time, western media (the sock puppets of government) highlights its own agenda.

i.e. Saudi Arabia's leak front page.
US spying on UN and allies, back page and a few lines only.

Funny how the western media refer to Saudi Arabia and the UAE as "Arabic Nations". Should it not be: two arabic nations. Anyway its has been known for a long time that the dictators in Saudi Arabia seek western support to prop up their regime.

Funny how the west claims Irans elections are not democratic, but at the same time make no mention of Saudi Arabians total lack of elections.

miriam   November 30th, 2010 12:27 pm ET

John A,

And where do the Wikileak documents feature in the "Arabic Nations" ' newspapers?

Nowhere.

(Last time I checked, 'nations' is plural, ie refering to more than one)

The leaks are designed to embarrass Western states who have open and free media to report what they, the media, choose.

It is unclear what effect the leaks will have on the closed, non-democratic societies, those who are being shown to be two-faced and whose populations will largely never hear anything about the episode if it is never allowed to appear in their media.

Ariely   November 30th, 2010 2:23 pm ET

A:Prof Bernard Lewis the number 1 worldwide expert on Islam.
He warned of the:
APOCALYPTIC MINDSET OF THE IRANIAN EADERSHIP.
Iranian leaders, in their speeches claim:
“The apocalyptic time has come
.“Ma’adi” the Muslim messiah is already here”
THE FINAL BATTLE HAS ALREDY BEGUN
THE END OF TIME HAS COME
FINALY THE SHIA WILL LEAD THE WORLD.
The good can go enjoy the delights of paradise and the wicked,
MEANING ALL OF US , CAN GO TO ETERN

-–
B:Shahid definition:
A Muslim martyr: somebody martyred in the cause of Islam.
Entitled to enjoy Muslim paradise:
From Tafseer Ibn Kathir:
"' In paradise when the Muslim enters the room to have sex with the first lady of the 72 Hur white ladies…
The ladies say we are eternal for you
__
Hezbollah is a Shia terrorist organization, commanded by Islamist Iran.
Hezbollah rocket Israel civilian sites, declaring that killing civilians is their goal.
Israeli Arab citizens have been murdered by Hezbollah rockets.
Hezbollah solution to the killing of Israeli Arab citizens was to declare that they are Shaids.
Hezbollah Shiats don’t care for Shia's life.
Hezbollah Shiats terrorist hide and rocked using Shia civilians as human shields.
Never the less Shia doesn't care for Sunni lives.
Israeli Arabs are Sunni.

Deb from Israel   November 30th, 2010 10:03 pm ET

Smith, there are lots of mentions of Israel in the wikileaks docs. Israel is a democratic country with free media. Most of what has been "leaked" about Israel and its leaders is old news for us.

Funnily enough, many Arab leaders are quoted off the record as having the same fears about Iran as Israel has – for example, the ruler of Qatar. See this article:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-cables-you-can-t-blame-israel-for-mistrusting-arabs-says-qatari-ruler-1.328061

John A   December 1st, 2010 12:53 am ET

Ariely says,
Prof Bernard Lewis the number 1 worldwide expert on Islam.
-------------------–

Even though Prof Bernard Lewis has never practiced Islam??

Its like saying the Pope is a leading expert on Judaism.

Yet again, Ariely proves only one thing. Ariely is a tool.

Yusil   December 2nd, 2010 6:00 am ET

The Wikileak documents are designed to embarrass Western states to the facts that their so-called diplomacy is just so much double speak. You have a brave individual who has the testicular fortitude to identify political malpractice in the so righteous USA. Talk about hypocrisy by all the Zionists on these blogs but then you wouldn’t want to offend your American masters.

Filipe   December 3rd, 2010 1:26 am ET

OT John A,

Julian Assange was indicted for rape long before the leaked classified documents ever happened.

Yes..."Arabic Nations" ......... more than one.

Comprehension difficulties again???

miriam   December 5th, 2010 3:14 pm ET

Yusil,

Most of the documents are from cables reporting conversations between American and non-American diplomats and officials.

It is unclear how revealing statements made by non-Americans to Americans can be identified as "political malpractice in the so righteous USA".

The documents have actually proven to be fairly revealing of the attitudes of non-American officials and of their sometimes "creative" suggestions as to how to solve some global issues.

Whilst designed to embarrass Western states, it would have been far more 'heroic' to try to reveal the secrets of the anti-democratic, anti-Western, autocratic and tyrranical states, whose populations suffer in secrecy and and have little opportunity to express their opinions.

BTW, the "Zionists" who are fortunate to live in free societies and are therefore able to express their opinions have the same rights as anybody else. They can criticize who they want and support who they want whether their comments are directed at the US, Israel, the UN, EU or anybody else.

John A   December 6th, 2010 9:40 am ET

Filipe, "Nations" means more than one nation. You are correct. How do you feel? You got something right. Thats a big step for you.

Now if you look beyond your first step, you'll note CNN declared " Arabic Nations" were concerned about Irans nuclear power. By making a vague plural, some might think many Arabs have a problem with Iran's interest in atomic energy. I pointed out that only two nations have apparent concerns and the plural used by CNN certainly does not imply many have a problem. Simply adding clarity to a vague picture painted by CNN.

Also we must remember that Brazil and Turkey negotiated a perfectly good solution with Iran. But this was rejected by America, because America wants an excuse to invade Iran.
And obviously the only solution Israel seeks is a violent one.

As America invaded Iraq illegally, possibly the sanctions should be on the USA. After all, among all these players, the USA is the only state which has declared war illegally. Not Iran. Funny thing is Israel also has a track record of breaking international law. So to be clear, the criminal states of America and Israel are the ones pushing for war against Iran. No other country sees war as a solution.

Filipe   December 7th, 2010 5:51 pm ET

OT John A,

And your point is what?? Exactly ??

Do you still have comprehension dificulties?

There are many Arab nations concerned with actions of Iran.....many more than 2......

Are you simply in denial????

But, of course, why would you admit to denial???? That is the root problem.

Ariely   December 7th, 2010 8:59 pm ET

President Obama where to he leads?
Either he doesn’t understand the world politics, or he is naïve, or what elese?
------------
Reality:
wikileak disclosed:
Arab leaders view Iran as existence strategic enemy.
Arabs are funding worldwide terror infrastructure ,
Pakistan is an NUK mate mare
Arab leaders, by their own initiative, required USA to act decisively by any means to stop Iran including bombing.
Arab leaders don’t connect the stopping of Iran (Persia) strategic rival to actions again Israel
-
Islamist Iran ideology stands again USA- the gig satan-, democracy, human rights, Sunni's narratives, desiring to govern the world by Shia doctrine.

Worldwide status:
*Islamist Iran treats the all ME and gets rocks covering Europe, Close to get NUKS.
*N. Korea is aggressive as never before.
*Chaves acts to create a NATO stile block of countries standing against USA.
*After Obama visit to Turkey- Edugan become very active defending and promoting Islamism.
*China doesn't give a dime when Obama asked economies and currency adjustments to decrease the pressure on USA economy.
*iIslamist on offensive in Afganista,Pakistan, Somalia,Yemen
*In house terror expending
*Arabs fund Islamic schools worldide teaching hate.
*Arabs are the terror funders
--

Presdient Obama "the change' fabricates the need from Israel to give up major security and heritage assets for the creation of a coalition to stop Islamist Iran.

Obama unprecedented demands from Israel, never required by Arabs, cause the Palestinians to the facto stop negations.

As a result of Obama , Arabs cannot afford to demand less only more.

Accumulating President Obama"the change" speeches and policy the composed picture is that he acts similar to Chamberlin a head WW2-.

He didn’t learned that dictatorship ideologies desiring world dominations, driven by hate cannot be stopped by concessions/

President Obama did not learn that it is better to confront and stop those ideologies before they build up their destruction capabilities.

President Obama is a charismatic speecher, very good in TV shows- however-
President Obama where to he leads?

proud zionist   December 8th, 2010 6:51 am ET

John A antisemitic liar

you have declared war illegally on jews. you are one in a long line of jew haters, some of which are adolf hitler, the mad man from teheran, josef goebbels, da silva, erdogan, haniye, nasrallah and many more

you are in good company

John A   December 8th, 2010 3:09 pm ET

Proud Zionist,

Obama has done whatever Goldman Sachs has told him to do. Obama is now a burned out entity and Goldman Sachs will soon throw him under the bus and install a new puppet. You should try focusing on the puppet masters and not the puppet.

Now you say I have "declared an illegal war on the Jews".
Zionist your madness is not disputable, you don't need to keep supplying evidence of your mental disease. If there is a god, I hope he can bring peace to your mind and soul. You really need a miracle as you are way beyond human help.

proud zionist   December 9th, 2010 12:30 pm ET

John antisemite A

you are alleging things that never happened and when caught in lies you spew hate and incitement.

please, please don't forget to take the pills the doctor prescribed you, otherwise you go off your rockers and show what an imbecile you are.

did you take your pill today?

لینوکس   November 12th, 2011 1:21 pm ET

Incredibly well written writing!

murah   November 26th, 2011 11:03 am ET

You are truly correct on this one.

expert referencement   December 14th, 2011 10:15 am ET

This could be your best piece to date.


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