BRAVO ZULU FOR DV FLYOUT TO USS NIMITZ

UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000230 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS SINGAPORE FOR DATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR OVIP PREL EPET BX SUBJECT: BRAVO ZULU FOR DV FLYOUT TO USS NIMITZ ¶1. (U) BRAVO ZULU to the USS Nimitz for outstanding support for a DV flyout by the Minister of Energy of Brunei, Pehin Yahya Bakar on August 2. Pehin Yahya, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force and acting CHOD Pehin General Mahmud Saidin, the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for security policy Datin Salbiah Sulaiman, and other DVs from the military, security services, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade all saw the expertise, precision, and teamwork of the United States Navy and Marine Corps at their best. From the briefings to the observation of flight operations to the tasty, halal food served to our Muslim guests, CSG-11 Commander Rear Admiral John Blake, USS NIMITZ Captain Michael Manazir and their teams were top notch. ¶2. (SBU) Pehin Yahya is also the Chairman of the companies that own Brunei's eight LNG carriers that carry LNG to U.S. allies Japan and South Korea. Japanese officials tell us that one in five lightbulbs in Tokyo is lit by Brunei LNG. Yahya told us that he was impressed with capabilities of the NIMITZ and the professionalism of her crew. The NIMITZ work at keeping the sea lanes open is critical to Brunei, which derives 90 percent of its export earnings from oil and gas. General Mahmud, himself a pilot, admired the skills and attention to safety on display during the air operations. Datin Salbiah, a key player on the Sultan of Brunei's staff who came back early from vacation to join the flyout said that she was in awe of U.S. capabilities that she observed on this "once in a lifetime" experience. ¶3. (U) Thank you for the extra effort involved to create a memorable experience for our DVs. From the team at Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan, we wish the USS NIMITZ fair winds and following seas, and a safe return home. SKODON