Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT2912
2006-09-08 14:49:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION FROM GCC COUNTRIES

Tags:  MASS EAID PREL QA SA AE KU LE PARM 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5496
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0257
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1109
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002912 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016
TAGS: MASS EAID PREL QA SA AE KU LE PARM
SUBJECT: LEBANON: REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION FROM GCC COUNTRIES

REF: A. A. STATE 138390


B. B. BEIRUT 2841

C. C. BEIRUT 2867

Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002912

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016
TAGS: MASS EAID PREL QA SA AE KU LE PARM
SUBJECT: LEBANON: REQUEST FOR AMMUNITION FROM GCC COUNTRIES

REF: A. A. STATE 138390


B. B. BEIRUT 2841

C. C. BEIRUT 2867

Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This cable includes an action request in Paragraph 7.


2. (S/NF) Through our discussions with contacts in the
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and political leadership, it is
clear there remains a critical need -- as expressed in reftel
A -- to immediately equip the LAF to empower it to deploy in
strength in the South and along the Lebanese-Syrian border
while also maintaining an effective deterrent presence in
other areas of Lebanon. We welcome the USG active leadership
in identifying potential sources of assistance to the LAF.
Of added concern, a recent conversation with Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Defense Elias Murr revealed that
there may be a serious, potentially violent challenge by
Hizballah and Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement against
GOL authority in the coming months (reftel B),for which both
the LAF and the ISF must be fully prepared.


3. (C) We have heard from various sources -- and have
ourselves assessed -- that the LAF is gravely under-equipped
and is consequently suffering from a worsening lack of morale
and an overall sense of inability to face down threats both
internal and external. Unfortunately, the LAF's
unpreparedness for combat is an open secret in Lebanon, so
Syria, Hizballah and others know that they have little to
worry about for the time being.


4. (C) While there is a laundry list of specific LAF
desires, this Embassy believes that what is needed most, and
what will have the most immediate impact as far as morale and
deterrent capability, is ammunition. Minister Murr also
claimed ammunition as the most essential LAF priority at this
time (reftel C). The Embassy has done an assessment, and
conservatively estimates that the LAF has $90 million in
ammunition needs. This would include the required quantities
for combat (eight basic loads) and the additional quantities
for training for two years.


5. (C) Of this, we determine that the most critical
immediate need is for 5.56MM ammunition for M16A1 rifles --
at a cost of $33.7 million. The LAF has 36,000 M16 rifles,
70 per cent of which are fully mission capable (according to
CENTCOM's December 2005 equipment assessment). Of the 30 per
cent that are not fully mission capable, many have minor
external deficiencies and could still be used for training or
combat. For this number of rifles, the requirement for eight
basic loads and two years' of training ammunition is
99,600,000 rounds of M16 5.56MM ball. The LAF currently has
on hand a paltry 2,650,000 rounds, or less than three per
cent of its real need. Even without the training ammunition,
the LAF still has less than six percent of its combat
requirements.


6. (C) In addition to their other donations to the LAF, the
GCC countries -- namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and
Qatar -- can again play a significant role in supporting
Lebanon. These countries could quickly transfer significant
amounts of ammunition -- whether of U.S. origin, which may
take longer due to third country transfer requirements, or
non-U.S. NATO origin -- to the Lebanese Armed Forces. This
would apply to all LAF ammunition needs, but again the
priority is for M16 rounds. Our local contacts believe that
Saudi Arabia could provide 30 million rounds of M16 ball, and
Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar could each provide 20 million. At
90 million rounds, the LAF would still not quite have enough
ammunition to meet the requirements of 8 basic loads and two
years of training for M16 rifles, but would be in a much
stronger position. We believe this would also have an
immediate positive impact on LAF morale and confidence.
Hizballah fighters, who currently enjoy the confidence that
the LAF is short of ammunition, will take notice by this
assistance, which will also have a positive impact on public
attitudes.


BEIRUT 00002912 002 OF 002



7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy Beirut suggests that the
Department consider, in addition to our other requests,
asking posts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar to
approach host government officials to consider transferring
the needed M16 ammunition to the LAF as soon as possible.
FELTMAN