Gulf unfazed so far by WikiLeaks” Royals

WikiLeaks disclosures have had no effect on Washington's Gulf Arab allies because it is clear the cables do not reflect official US policy, two senior ruling family members said.

The royals, one from Bahrain and one from Saudi Arabia, suggested in a debate at a Gulf security conference that final judgement on the leaks would have to await publication of all the quarter of a million cables obtained by the website.

Cables about US diplomacy in the Middle East have provided some of the most controversial aspects of the disclosures.

One notable document cited Saudi King Abdullah as urging the United States to attack Iran's nuclear installations. He was reported to have advised Washington to "cut off the head of the snake" while there was still time.

The disclosure that Gulf Arab leaders want Washington to destroy Iran's nuclear programme exposed long-hidden views.

"These are leaks, not official statements," former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal told the debate at the Manama Dialogue conference organised by the British-based International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.

"They don't affect decision-making or policy-making or strategic thinking in the area."

Prince Turki, the brother of Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, added: "It is only when everything is revealed that we can see the whole picture."

Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa noted the cables had shed light on the thinking of Arab countries.
 
When the full collection of messages was published, the thinking of other regions would be disclosed.
Like Prince Turki, Sheikh Khaled played down the immediate effect of the leaks.

He told the debate: "Is there an impact on national security of citizens? No, never."

"Is there going to be an impact on policies? I don't see much of an impact on policies."

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would not comment on the US diplomatic cables issued by the WikiLeaks website as it was unsure about their reliability.