JAF TO TRANSFER MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 002240 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/FO AND PM/FO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017 TAGS: MASS PREL JO LE SUBJECT: JAF TO TRANSFER MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON REF: A. AMMAN 2172 ¶B. STATE 70449 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Action request - see paragraph 3. ¶2. (C) The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) has identified the following items for transfer to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): 2 million rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, 1 million rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, and 500,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition. ¶3. (C) DAO Amman is currently involved in working with the DOD regarding over-flight approval for Israeli airspace for the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF). DAO/MAP Amman is working with JAF to complete the retransfer authority questionnaire required by the Political Military Bureau. ACTION REQUEST: Given the very basic nature of the items the JAF wishes to send, the length of time it may take to acquire all the data required for the questionnaire, the willingness and ability of the JAF to effect this transfer imminently, the critical needs of the LAF right now, and the fact that Jordan is pursuing this transfer at the common request of the GoL and the USG itself, Post requests authority to give the JAF the go-ahead to fly the materiel as soon as overflight issues are settled. Post will in the meantime vigorously pursue all the data needed in the questionnaire. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ Hale