SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL BUCHANAN'S

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003993

SIPDIS

NOFORN

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA AND PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM MOPS GCC AF IZ TC
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL BUCHANAN'S
VISIT TO THE UAE


1. (U) Classified by Richard A. Albright, Charge
d'Affaires, a.i., for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).


2. (S) General Buchanan: On behalf of Ambassador
Wahba, who is out of country until September 4, I
would like to welcome you to the UAE. Your visit
comes at a time of unprecedented Emirati
cooperation for Operation Enduring Freedom and of
exemplary UAE support for Iraq's reconstruction.
The Emiratis and the U.S. mission to the UAE are
looking forward to your visit.


3. (S) This will be your first opportunity to meet
Major General Khaled Bin Adbullah al-Buainnan,
Commander of the UAE AF/AD. During your meeting
with him, you may meet one, or both, of his Deputy
Commanders, Brigadier Abdallah Said al-Hashmi and
Brigadier Mohammed Sweidan al-Qamzi. Post
considered a meeting with UAE Armed Forces Chief of
Staff LTG Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed al-Nahyan
(MbZ),but the Emiratis preferred that General
Khaled introduce you to MbZ at a subsequent
meeting.


4. (S) General Khaled last visited the U.S. in mid-
May during which time he met with CSAF General
Jumper, and discussed remote sensing and the E2C
Hawkeye. In September, General Khaled will be
attending the Global Air Chiefs Conference in
Washington, D.C.

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SUGGESTED THEMES
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5. (S) We propose that you touch on the following
key bilateral military issues, in addition to the
more general themes outlined below in para six:

-- Provide a "look-ahead" on our likely CENTAF
footprint both in the UAE specifically and the
region more generally;

-- Be prepared to engage with the Emiratis about
their vision of the F-16 program as a first step in
a strategic bilateral partnership with the U.S.

-- Express our enthusiasm about the validation
course at the Air Warfare Center, now tentatively
scheduled for December 2003. The Center will be a
model for multilateral training in the region.

-- Express our appreciation for the UAE offer to
fund the "Al Dhafra Air Defense" site. (Involves
relocation of US housing facilities for Force
Protection concerns.)

-- Reiterate General Moseley's appreciation for
General Khaled's assistance in facilitating the bed
down of US aircraft at Al Dhafra Air Base during
OIF.

-- The Dubai Air Show takes place December 7-11,
and will be preceded by a UAE-hosted Air Chiefs'
Conference. The UAE Government regards this as a
major event and expects strong US support and
presence. You can anticipate a request to provide
both a static display and demonstration aircraft
for the Air Show, as well as topics and briefings
for the Air Chiefs' Conference.


6. (S) More broadly, you may also wish to:

-- Express thanks for the UAE's exemplary support
for U.S. and coalition efforts in Iraq and
Afghanistan, namely access to bases and logistical
support, including air and sealift of Bulgarian
troops to Iraq, the UAE SOC deployment at Bagram,
as well as extensive intelligence coordination;

-- Pass on our gratitude for the UAE's generous
humanitarian assistance, especially the UAE Armed
Force's establishment of the very successful Sheikh
Zayed hospital in Baghdad and the UAE's efforts to
re-supply with equipment and medicine other Iraqi
hospitals and the provision of basic foodstuffs to
the Iraqi people.

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BILATERAL MILITARY ISSUES
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Regional Footprint:
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7. (S) If appropriate, we recommend that you
outline CENTAF's likely regional footprint. The
Emiratis have expressed openness for a more robust
US presence in the region, including an alternate
Air Force command center in the UAE.
Air Warfare Center
--------------


8. (S) The Gulf Air Warfare Center at Al-Dhafra Air
Base is an important initiative. The Center has
tremendous potential to become a resource for
multilateral training, defense cooperation, and
compatibility. There are two issues we wish to
highlight. First, the inaugural class is being
delayed from October until December because of
construction issues and UAE attempts to expand the
scope of the original syllabus. Second, Major
General Khaled insists that the US Deputy
Commandant should not out-rank the UAE Commandant
(a Lieutenant Colonel).

E2C Hawkeye - (If raised)
--------------


9. (S) The Emiratis are intent on purchasing the
E2C Hawkeye. The original LOA lapsed in June
without their signature. However, they issued a
Letter of Intent saying they are still studying the
Hawkeye, and deposited $5 million as a placeholder.
The Emiratis are working with Northrop Grumman and
the Naby to revise the LOA and they hope to have
that done prior to the Dubai Air Show in December.

Predator Update -- (If Raised)
--------------


10. (S) The UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff raised
his desire to procure the Predator B during his
meetings in Washington in July. He believes this
system will provide him with the much-needed
capability for surveillance of the UAE's porous
coast and remote inland borders. Be prepared to
respond.

ALBRIGHT