LTG WHITCOMB DISCUSSES MILITARY COOPERATION WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 003430

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER MASS YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: LTG WHITCOMB DISCUSSES MILITARY COOPERATION WITH
MOD, MOI

REF: A. SANAA 2487

B. SANAA 2848

C. SANAA 1037

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


1. (C). Summary. Visiting U.S. ARCENT Commander LTG
Whitcomb met with the Ministers of Defense and Interior on
November 29. Both Ministers expressed their gratitude for
USG assistance in strengthening Yemen's ability to combat
terrorism. LTG Whitcomb thanked the ROYG for its support in
the GWOT and looked forward to increased cooperation between
Yemeni and American security forces.

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MOD: We're in for a Long Fight, Al-Houthi Still a Problem
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2. (C) Minister of Defense MG Abdullah Ali Aliwa expressed
gratitude for USG assistance and looked forward to increased
support, saying he anticipates the fight against terrorism
will be "a long conflict." "We suffer from Al Qaeda just
like you," he continued. Aliwa considered President Saleh's
recent Washington visit to be "very positive" and promised to
continue working with the Office of Military Cooperation
(OMC) to develop a long-term strategic plan (ref A) for
strengthening and modernizing the Yemeni armed forces.


3. (C) In addition to combating groups like Al Qaeda, Aliwa
stated that the military is also confronted with difficult
internal security threats. He complained that the release of
imprisoned supporters of slain rebel cleric Hussein Al-Houthi
(ref B) presented "real problems" for the military as they
immediately returned to fighting upon their release. (Note:
President Saleh pardoned Al-Houthi supporters as part of the
annual Ramadan amnesty release. The original intent of the
amnesty was to undercut support for the insurgency. End
Note).


4. (C) LTG Whitcomb thanked Aliwa for his forces' support
in the GWOT and commended YSOF's performance during the
Al-Houthi conflict (ref C). He also looked forward to
exploring new areas of cooperation between the U.S. and
Yemeni armies through joint exercises and seminars. Aliwa was
receptive to LTG Whitcomb,s report that ARCENT is planning a
Mountain Warfare Seminar with his staff that incorporates
Operation Enduring Freedom lessons learned. LTG Whitcomb
encouraged MOD to send a representative to a February 2006
Land Forces Symposium in Atlanta to discuss mutual regional
security concerns, such as border security.

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MOI: Building on Success
--------------


5. (C) LTG Whitcomb also praised MOI's Central Security
Force - Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) for its operations
during the Al-Houthi conflict. He explained that ARCENT's
primary focus will be on increased cooperation with the
Yemeni army, but wanted to explore ways to support MOI's
"great successes" with the CTU and the Yemen Coast Guard.
LTG Whitcomb stressed the importance of building upon success
and integrating the CTU with regular military, regional and
American forces, especially with regard to sharing
intelligence.


6. (C) Alimi also expressed his gratitude for USG
assistance in establishing and developing the YCG and CTU,
which even in their infancy have made valuable contributions
to strengthening Yemen's borders and combating terrorism. He
hoped to expand the CTU beyond its current 150 member size in
order to adequately confront the "difficulties and
complications" of combating terrorism in Yemen. Alimi also
encouraged the USG to lean on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
countries to provide more bilateral aid and aggressively
tackle terrorist financing flows into Yemen.


7. (U) This cable was cleared by LTG Whitcomb.
Krajeski