MOD DEMONSTRATES NEW FOUND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002487

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MASS YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: MOD DEMONSTRATES NEW FOUND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT IN
ADVANCE OF SALEH VISIT

REF: SANAA 2465

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary. On August 28, Office of Military Cooperation
(OMC) Chief met with Minister of Defense MG Abdallah Ali
Aleiwa, Director of Military Intelligence BG Ali Ahmed
Al-Sayyani, and Commander of the Yemen Special Operations
Forces (YSOF) Colonel Ahmed Saleh. At the behest of
President Saleh, Aleiwa discussed MOD's new Counter Terrorism
and Border Security Plan. End Summary.

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SALEH TO MOD: TIME FOR CLOSER COOPERATION
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2. (C) As promised during the recent visit of MGen Ghormley
(reftel),Aleiwa shared an armed forces strategic development
plan with OMC Chief, laying out Yemeni military training and
equipment requirements over the next five years. Aleiwa
expressed his willingness to work closely with OMC, stressing
that Saleh himself directed MOD to develop a plan that USG
found "realistic and executable." OMC Chief looked forward to
providing assistance to strengthening CT-efforts, but
emphasized that USG participation in refining the plan did
not equate to a financial commitment. Aleiwa agreed to a
working level meeting with OMC officials to discuss the plan
further, at which time an Arabic and English copy will be
presented.

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Comment
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3. (C) A willingness to actively engage with OMC, especially
on a working level, is a significant improvement in OMC-MOD
cooperation. The fact that this new found spirit of
cooperation stems from a presidential order is a promising
sign that Saleh understands CT cooperation must improve
before his Washington visit.


4. (C) Although MOD still displays a lack of understanding
of the FMF process and likely views the CT plan as an invoice
for USG support, their willingness to discuss long-term
planning requirements is encouraging. A comprehensive
evaluation of equipment and training needs would be a
distinct departure from the case by case demands currently
being made, and will allow OMC to more efficiently focus
limited FMF resources to support CT and border security
efforts.


5. (C) Post will provid a more detailed anaylsis of the CT
and Border Security Plan after receiving the English copy.

Krajeski