Excerpt from document
(S/NF) Summary: Over the last six months, an American
investment consultant has managed to connect himself to Muammar
al-Qadhafi's exclusive inner-circle through one of Qadhafi's
longtime female protocol staffers. Through her, the investor
has gained access to Qadhafi on numerous occasions, including
during his September visit to New York.

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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000920

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG; COMMERCE FOR NATE MASON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EINV, PINR, ECON, LY
SUBJECT: INSIGHT INTO QADHAFI'S LIFE FROM AN AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN

TRIPOLI 00000920 001.2 OF 002

CLASSIFIED BY: Gene A. Cretz, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Tripoli,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
1. (S/NF) Summary: Over the last six months, an American
investment consultant has managed to connect himself to Muammar
al-Qadhafi's exclusive inner-circle through one of Qadhafi's
longtime female protocol staffers. Through her, the investor
has gained access to Qadhafi on numerous occasions, including
during his September visit to New York. During a November 4
meeting with Pol/Econ chief and Econoff, the consultant provided
insight into Qadhafi's living habits and personal relationships,
noting that he lives in modest quarters in Tripoli, and is
"paranoid" about nearly everyone around him. According to the
businessman, Qadhafi was pleased with his own performance at the
UN General Assembly and was generally happy with his first-ever
visit to the United States. End Summary.

QADHAFI INSIDER KEY TO ACCESS FOR US CONSULTANT

2. (S/NF) On November 4, a Las Vegas-based, American citizen,
personal investment consultant met with us to share his latest
experiences attempting to do business in the Jamahiriya. The
consultant said that he had been working since early 2009 to
find investment opportunities for clients who were accustomed to
doing business internationally, such as in Saudi Arabia and
Lebanon. Libya, however, had eluded them -- although the
investors had established connections at the Libyan Investment
Authority (LIA) with the head of the fund, Mohammed Layas, they
had not been able to secure a business contract. The consultant
explained that his clients had met with Layas during a March
visit and had attempted to woo him with their project plans.
Layas indicated that a contract would be forthcoming. However,
the consultant complained that in late October, the clients
received an email from one of the LIA staff members stating that
a contract could not be offered at that time. The consultant
stated that he planned to object to the unprofessional manner in
which his clients were treated during his upcoming meetings with
Muammar al-Qadhafi.

3. (S/NF) The consultant explained that during his current
visit, he was representing a Saudi-American businesswoman, who
had access to one of Qadhafi's longtime personal and protocol
staff, Mabruka al-Sharef. [Note: Mabruka, who is in her
mid-40's, is known to be very close to Qadhafi. She has been
described to emboffs as "Qadhafi's left arm, while Nuri
al-Mismari is his right arm." End note.] The consultant said
that he had met Mabruka during his first visit to Libya in early
2009. Since then, Mabruka had provided him access to Qadhafi on
numerous occasions and had even arranged for the two to meet
during the Leader's September visit to New York. Since he was
invited by the Leader's personal staff, the consultant said that
he had no problems securing visas to visit Libya. In fact,
during his most recent visits, he had not even needed a visa to
enter Libya. The consultant explained that Qadhafi's staff had
arranged with the airlines to include a note in his reservation,
explaining that he would receive a visa at the airport upon
arrival. Indeed, on his last two trips to Libya, upon entry,
the Leader's staff took his passport, kept it during his entire
stay, and returned it at the airport upon departure.

4. (S/NF) According to the consultant and other embassy
contacts, Mabruka is part of a team of three female protocol
assistants on the Libyan Leader's personal staff, which includes
Sanaa Al Ghanoodi (a fluent English speaker in her late-30's)
and Hawa al-Tawerghi (born in 1952; previously described to
emboffs head of Qadhafi's female security team). Mabruka is the
most senior member of the group and has the most access to the
Leader. As such, the consultant has been able to meet with
Qadhafi on several occasions, although he said that his meetings
with other members of the Libyan regime have been limited.

INSIGHTS INTO QADHAFI'S WAY OF LIFE

5. (S/NF) The consultant shared several anecdotes about the
Libyan leader's way of life -- he lives in modest quarters, with
prefabricated walls and floors that creak. The walls are white
and do not feature any artwork. Qadhafi's house-staff dress in
street clothes rather than uniforms. The consultant said that
Qadhafi normally wears jogging suits to meet him. He described
Qadhafi as paranoid about those around him, including his
interpreters, and said that the Leader usually always conducts
meetings with him in English, speaking very slowly and in a low
voice. The consultant commented that Qadhafi apparently did not
have his own bank account and lived on modest means.

TRIPOLI 00000920 002 OF 002

QADHAFI'S THOUGHTS ON NEW YORK VISIT

6. (S/NF) The consultant also offered some insight into the
Libyan leader's thoughts before his trip to New York,
characterizing Qadhafi as childlike in his curiosity -- asking
"How much of New York do you think I will get to see?" and "Is
Washington far from New York? Do you think I might have time to
visit?" The consultant viewed Mabruka's role in New York as
largely protective of Qadhafi -- she was able to shield him from
negative media reports on his visit and from information that
would offend or anger him. The consultant said that although
Mabruka did not accompany Qadhafi to all of his engagements in
New York, the Libyan leader called her frequently for advice on
his schedule and movements. The consultant said that Qadhafi
was exhausted by his intense itinerary in New York and that he
had asked Mabruka to recommend which meetings he could cut from
his schedule on certain days.

7. (S/NF) According to the consultant, Qadhafi was pleased with
his own performance at the UN General Assembly and was happy
with his first visit to the United States. The Leader had "kept
many things bottled up" for the last thirty years and was
finally able to express them on the world stage. Qadhafi felt
that he needed to speak his mind and express his frustration
with issues that had been weighing on him -- including his
thoughts on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
UNGA gave him the opportunity to do what he had wanted to do for
many years -- address the international community with his own
position and feelings on world affairs.

ACCESS, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY?

8. (S/NF) In spite of the leadership access that Mabruka had
provided, the consultant had not yet managed to secure business
contracts for any of his clients. He expected to meet with
Qadhafi again soon to pursue the latter's ideas for building a
pharmaceutical industry in Libya. The said Qadhafi hoped to
create a "Medical City" in Tripoli, with the aim of creating a
regional hub for medical care. He expressed his desire to link
his investors to a project related to those plans.

9. (S/NF) Comment: The American investor's experiences in Libya
underline the importance of personal relationships in this
opaque system. Although he has not yet secured a business deal
with the Libyans, his investment in a relationship with Qadhafi
could ultimately pay off, provided he does not make any
missteps. End comment.
CRETZ