Cablegate: New Head of Bahrain National Security Agency

VZCZCXRO2805
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0194 0841330
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241330Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7706
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1034
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000194

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR BA
SUBJECT: NEW HEAD OF BAHRAIN NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY

REF: TD-314/020552-08 17MAR2008

Classified By: Charge d'affaires, Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d).

1.(SBU) King Hamad on March 23 appointed Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa as the new Head of the Bahrain National Security Agency, replacing Khalifa bin Ali Al-Khalifa. Khalifa bin Abdullah is currently Bahrain's ambassador in London, and has been there only about a year. Prior to that, he served in a variety of positions at the Ministry of Information: Acting Director of Press and Foreign Media Relations (1997-1998), Director of Press and Foreign Media Relations (1998-2002), Assistant Undersecretary (2002-2007), and Acting CEO of Bahrain Television (BTV) and Radio Corporation (2006-2007).

2.(C) During his time at the Ministry of Information, Khalifa bin Abdullah was a valued contact of the Embassy's Public Affairs section. He worked closely with the PAS on a judicial forum in 2004 and the Forum for the Future in 2005. During his stint as acting CEO of BTV, he presided over a successful collaboration with the State Department's Office of Broadcast Services in producing a documentary program about the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX********************************************* ******** HENZEL

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