Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO8938
2005-11-29 14:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S VISIT TO EGYPT

Tags:  PTER KCRM PREL EG OVIP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008938 

SIPDIS

FOR THE DIRECTOR FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PTER, KCRM, PREL, EG, OVIP, Visits
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S VISIT TO
EGYPT

Classified by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

Director Mueller,

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008938

SIPDIS

FOR THE DIRECTOR FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PTER, KCRM, PREL, EG, OVIP, Visits
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER'S VISIT TO
EGYPT

Classified by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

Director Mueller,

1. (C) Thank you for including Cairo in your travel to the
Middle East. Your visit presents an opportunity to review
and upgrade our law enforcement/intelligence cooperation with
the Egyptians. The CIA already has a strong and growing
relationship with the Egyptian Intelligence Service (EGIS).
We would like the FBI to establish a similarly robust and
productive partnership with the State Security Investigative
Service. The Ministry does not yet recognize the benefit for
their side of enhanced ties with the FBI. But leaders like
Omar Soliman and especially President Mubarak, with whom we
hope you will be able to meet, have the vision and influence
to overcome these reservations. On our side, we should be
ready with concrete proposals to kick start new levels of
practical cooperation. Exchange of forensic and biometric
data and associated upgrades of Egypt's capabilities in this
field could provide a good beginning.

2. (C) The return of the specter of terrorism in Egypt in
late 2004, following seven years of safety is seen here as a
wake-up call to the Egyptian security forces. Interior
Minister El Adly, and State Security Director Hassan, -- you
will meet both -- have now seen three major terrorist
incidents on their watch:

-- The bombing of three resorts in the Sinai, October 2004
-- The bombing at a major Cairo tourist market, April 2005
-- The Sharm el-Sheikh bombing, July 2005;

3. (C) El Adly may lose his job over the Sharm bombings as
well as the mis-management of the current Parliamentary
elections. As a result, you may find the Egyptians more
receptive to a U.S. initiative to upgrade our law-enforcement
cooperation.

4. (C) One specific area of cooperation that I understand is
under consideration is sharing of fingerprint and other
biometric data on suspected terrorists and other criminals.
This could involve training and equipment upgrades for
Egyptian personnel. This is a terrific initiative. In
addition, you should urge State Security Director Hassan to
bring a high level delegation to Washington to visit FBI HQ
and the Quantico training facilities early in 2006. Once he
sees what the FBI can offer and establishes some personal
contact, he will be more forthcoming with intelligence
cooperation on their side. I hope you will also consider
offering to continue and ideally expand training
opportunities for Egyptian personnel at the FBI Academy.


5. (C) Your arrival in Egypt coincides with the end of a
month-long series of parliamentary elections, in which the
outlawed but tolerated Muslim Brotherhood (MB) has made
substantial gains. The elections have been conducted in
three rounds. The final run-offs will be held on
December 7. The ruling NDP will retain the super majority it
needs to control the legislative agenda, but with the MB
holding as much as 20 percent of the seats, atmospherics and
tone of debate will probably change dramatically.

6. (C) The Egyptians have a long history of threatening us
with the MB bogeyman. Your counterparts may try to suggest
that the President,s insistence on greater democracy in
Egypt is somehow responsible for the MB,s electoral success.
You should push back that, on the contrary, the MB,s rise
signals the need for greater democracy and transparency in
government. The images of intimidation and fraud that have
emerged from the recent elections favor the extremists both
we and the Egyptian government oppose. The best way to
counter narrow-minded Islamist politics is to open the
system. The FBI could serve as a resource and partner ) if
indeed you are willing -- in professionalizing the Egyptian
security services and modernizing their investigative
techniques. This would enhance the credibility of the
security apparatus and remove an arrow from the Islamists,
quiver.

7. (C) At the end of the day, we believe you can best pitch
your visit as a serious effort to enhance our law enforcement
cooperation. Both sides are absolutely committed to
defeating violent extremists, and both sides can take more
tangible steps toward meeting this goal.


RICCIARDONE