DNSA TOWNSEND 05/26/04 MEETING WITH ROYG SECURITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001458

SIPDIS

FBI PASS TO UC RAPLH HORTON AND IOS DEBBIE MANCHAS, CTD/ETIU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2014
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV ETTC PARM YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: DNSA TOWNSEND 05/26/04 MEETING WITH ROYG SECURITY
OFFICIALS

REF: SANAA 1261

Classified By: Ambassador E.J. Hull for reasons 1.5 (b. and d.)


1. (S) Summary: On 5/26 DNSA Townsend reviewed CT cooperation
with MOI al-Alimi, PSO Director al-Gamish and NSB Officer
Saleh and highlighted recent inconsistencies in the
relationship. Dominating discussion, Alimi affirmed the
strength of the CT partnership, and noted that differences of
opinion do not diminish its strength. Townsend sought
enhanced intelligence sharing and access to CT detainees and
trial suspects. Declaring that all requests have been
granted, Alimi agreed to look into information provided by
Townsend that a Yemen CT detainee may be engaged in attack
planning. Townsend pressed the ROYG to facilitate pending
extradition and rendition requests and raised concerns over
Yemen's controls over small-arms. In reply, Alimi offered
access to the weapons storehouse and reviewed Yemen's efforts
to halt weapons smuggling. End summary.


2. (S) Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating
Terrorism Frances Townsend opened her 5/26 meeting with
Minister of Interior Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, Political Security
Director GEN Ghalib al-Gamish and National Security Bureau
Officer Amar Saleh by saying that at times Yemen has been a
"wonderful" partner, but at other times it is inconsistent.
She stated that she traveled to Yemen to make cooperation
stronger in the areas of intelligence sharing, renditions and
arms trafficking. Alimi said from the Yemeni perspective,
Yemen and the U.S. are "standing together in this effort to
stop terror." Alimi expressed appreciation for Townsend's
openness and transparency, but said that the ROYG had a
different, more positive view of its cooperation. He added,
"different opinions do not detract from the partnership."

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Intelligence Sharing; Trial and Evidentiary Access
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3. (S/NF) Townsend cited "helpful" instances where USG
officials were allowed access to detainees. According to
Townsend, these meetings were a direct result of FM Qirbi's
February visit to Washington. However, Townsend said, since
March the ROYG has allowed no visits to detainees or
terrorist trial suspects. (Note: USS Cole suspects Badawi
and Quso were re-captured in March.) Alimi responded that
all information on ROYG detainees suspected of terrorism is
shared with the US and said that USG officials have conducted
interviews. Townsend interjected that "not everything" has
been shared and said "repeated requests have been denied."
Gamish offered that visits were granted, but that poor
FBI/CIA coordination led to an unfair impression of
cooperation.


4. (S/NF) Townsend pursued the question of FBI access to
suspects in the USS Cole trials and combined trials for four
terrorist attacks (Ref A). Both Gamish and Alimi maintained
that the LEGATT should direct requests to visit trial
suspects through the Prosecutor General's office, which
controls suspects and evidence. Townsend countered that USG
officials should have been able to conduct interviews with
the suspects when the Embassy asked, while the suspects were
in PSO custody. Townsend added, "this is not a fair way to
treat a partner." Gamish replied that the CIA had full
access and complained that the USG did not coordinate its
requests. Townsend clarified the distinction between law
enforcement and intelligence information requests,
underscoring that both are necessary. (Note: Now that the
trials have begun, USG officials are unable to conduct
interviews.)


5. (S/NF) To emphasize the importance of intelligence
sharing, Townsend illustrated the case of Mustafa al-Ansari,
who was detained and released in Yemen. Ansari later was
killed perpetrating the 5/1 Yanbu terrorist attack. Alimi
replied that Ansari was detained in 1999 on counterfeiting
charges, served a one-year jail sentence and was released.
Gamish claimed the Saudis dismissed earlier
information-sharing attempts because they believed the
persons in question were religious clerics and not criminals.
Alimi and Gamish agreed that the Saudis took information
more seriously after the May 2003 Riyadh attacks. Townsend
offered that information such as fingerprints and
photographic evidence shared with partners could avert future
terrorist attacks.


6. (S/NF) Townsend highlighted particular concern over
information that a ROYG detainee may be involved in planning
a terrorist attack. Townsend said if an attack occurred and
was linked to planning in Yemen, "it would be a great tragedy
and have terrible consequences for what should be a wonderful
relationship." Alimi replied that he did not believe such
contact was possible, but he "expected" the U.S. to share
information on terrorist threats. Alimi promised to
investigate the information provided.

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Extraditions/Renditions
--------------


7. (S) Describing both national and personal significance to
seeing the perpetrators of the USS Cole bombing brought to
trial in the U.S., Townsend asked that Alimi "do everything
in his power" regarding pending U.S. extradition requests for:

-- USS Cole suspects Jamal Muhammad Ahmad Ali al-Badawi and
Fahd Muhammad Ahmad al-Quso;

-- Jaber al-Bannah (Lackawana suspect and American citizen)

Townsend also requested assistance in rendering Abu
Atta/al-Sharqawi and Hadi Dulqum to
third countries. Alimi responded that extradition in Yemen
is governed by its constitution, and that America should
understand why a nation must respect its own constitution.
(Note: The constitution prohibits extradition of Yemeni
citizens.)

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Alimi: Access to Weapons Buy-Back Warehouse
--------------


8. (S) Turning to small-arms smuggling, Townsend raised
concerns over large amounts of Polish and Chinese arms
shipments to Yemen's Ministry of Defense. Townsend said if
one totaled the past three years of arms shipments, each
soldier in Yemen would have 4 or 5 long-guns, not including
previously-held MoD stockpiles. Townsend continued that the
USG has evidence that weapons traced back to Yemen's MoD were
used in the May 2004 attack in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; and
MANPADS from Yemen were used in the 2002 attack in Mombassa,
Kenya and the 2003 attack in Saudi Arabia, and the 2003 Hunt
helicopter attack in Yemen. Townsend commented that visiting
storehouses is not sufficient, and said full accountability
of weapons with serial numbers and inventory controls are
necessary.


9. (C) Townsend proposed that foreign assistance for Yemen's
buy-back program would be easier to obtain if the ROYG could
assure donors of ROYG inventory controls and security at
storage facilities. Alimi replied that "you may visit the
warehouse tomorrow." Alimi detailed recent ROYG actions to
limit weapons smuggling, including the closure of the Saada
arms-market, promulgation of legislation, and 6 billion
Riyals spent in weapons buy-back. (Roughly 33 million USD.)


10. (C) Noting that discussions with Saudi Arabia on
arms-smuggling are underway, Alimi offered that Mohammed bin
Naif was in Yemen that day to meet with National Security
Bureau Officer Saleh to discuss this issue. Alimi said that
the ROYG has made repeated requests to Saudi Arabia to return
captured Yemeni arms smugglers, but there has been no
response. Alimi added that they want Saudi Arabia to take
its share of responsibility on this issue.

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Zindani
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11. (C) Townsend raised Yemen's obligations to freeze the
assets of Sheikh Abdul Majid al-Zindani under UNSCR 1267 and
said that there is no evidence yet of compliance. Alimi
referred her to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Comment
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12. (S) Comment: The two hour meeting covered several, if not
all, outstanding USG CT requests for cooperation. Alimi and
Gamish remained cordial even as difficult points on access to
suspects/detainees and improved cooperation were discussed.
Embassy Sanaa will follow up on assurances made in the
meeting. End comment.
HULL