DEFMIN TANTAWI AND GENERAL ABIZAID: STRENGTHEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005748 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR PM AND NEA/ELA NSC FOR WATERS CENTCOM FOR GIBSON SECDEF FOR OSD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS PTER KPAL PHUM KNNP LE EG IR IS, XF, IZ SUBJECT: DEFMIN TANTAWI AND GENERAL ABIZAID: STRENGTHEN LEBANESE ARMY, STAND UNITED AGAINST IRAN Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In his August 30 meeting with CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid, Egypt's Minister of Defense Field Marshal Tantawi inquired about the possibility of sending U.S.-origin Egyptian armaments to support the Lebanese Army, which he characterized as very weak. General Abizaid agreed, and promised to look into Tantawi's request. Tantawi also stressed the need for Israel to "calm down," and stop hindering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinians. Abizaid outlined the difficulties in Iraq, sectarian violence in particular, but underscored his underlying optimism that, with time, Iraq will be stabilized -- as long as the U.S. and its regional friends like Egypt stick close together in the face of Iranian machinations to split us apart. End summary. -------------- Egypt: Mil-Mil Relations as Strong as Ever -------------- ¶2. (C) CENTCOM Commanding General John Abizaid, accompanied by the Ambassador, met on August 30 with Egyptian Minister of Defense Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to review U.S.-Egyptian mil-mil relations and discuss the regional situation. Abizaid and Tantawi agreed that the U.S.-Egyptian relationship is very strong; but, added Tantawi, "we want even more." General Abizaid thanked Tantawi for Egypt's cooperation in areas as diverse as granting overflight clearances to facilitating usage of the Suez Canal. Tantawi said it was important for the U.S. to remember that, while Egyptian political and military leaders understood the value of the U.S.-Egyptian relationship, "the simple people do not see it." We need to work together to convince them, too. The key, according to Tantawi, is the reinvigoration of the peace process. "It is not a peace process just for the Palestinians and Israelis, but for the region as a whole." -------------- Lebanon: Must Strengthen the Army -------------- ¶3. (C) Turning to Lebanon, Tantawi opined that the key to stability there is strengthening the Lebanese Army. General Abizaid agreed, and asked if Egypt was planning to do anything to bring that about. Tantawi asked what the U.S. would do if Lebanon asked Egypt for (unspecified) U.S.-origin armaments. General Abizaid said that a CENTCOM assessment team will go to Lebanon in mid-September to see what the military requirements were, and then come to Egypt to brief us. Tantawi agreed to wait for the results of that assessment and then to work directly with CENTCOM and the U.S. embassy on the details of possibly transferring needed supplies to Lebanon. -------------- Iraq: Bringing Iraq into the Arab Fold -------------- ¶4. (C) Tantawi asked General Abizaid for his assessment of the situation in Iraq. General Abizaid explained that the security situation in Iraq has changed in the past year. Insurgents are no longer the main threat; sectarian violence is. The Iranians are playing on this, perhaps hoping to create another "Hizbollah" in the south of Iraq. "This would be very bad for everyone." It is time for the Arab states to reach out and help Iraq, General Abizaid stressed. The Ambassador explained that Iraq has always been seen as the eastern shield of the Arab world. Its stability and reintegration into the greater Arab and Islamic community is critical to the security and stability of the region. Egypt and other important Arab states must act now to welcome Iraq back. Tantawi agreed, but said there are limits to what Egypt can do. The Ambassador noted that even symbolic gestures were important, such as accepting an Iraqi ambassador in Cairo, forgiving Iraq's debts, and using Egyptian media to show the strong, positive, and unified face of Iraq to the Arab world. -------------- "Calm Israel Down" -------------- ¶5. (C) Tantawi then asked for U.S. help in getting Israel to "calm down" and stop hindering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the Palestinian people. Abu Mazen, he said, is weak and getting weaker. No one, including Abu Mazen, can control all the Palestinian factions. The problem is the lack of a "strong center." The Israelis, he added, are not helping the situation by hindering humanitarian efforts, and by their harsh treatment of the Palestinians. "Violence begets violence," he added in Arabic. General Abizaid stressed the need for patience, and for time to allow the situation to cool down. -------------- Iran's "Dangerous Game" -------------- ¶6. (C) The link between Iran, Syria, and Hizbollah -- as well as the Shia militias in southern Iraq -- is very clear, General Abizaid said. Iran sees the U.S. as "bogged down" and feels it has an opportunity to assert itself as a regional power. Throughout the Gulf, Iran has been trying to drive a wedge between the United States and our friends. In doing this, however, Iran is playing a very dangerous game which it will not win. Diplomacy and unity between the United States and its allies in the region will prevent an Iran-Iraq-Syria-Hizbollah crescent from forming. Tantawi agreed, but returned to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing that "if we solve that problem, the rest will be solved, as well." ¶7. (U) The USCENTCOM party cleared this message. JONES