MOD INDICATES WILLINGESS TO SIGN LOR FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003333 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, AND PM NSC FOR WATERS SECDEF FOR OSD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER MASS MARR MOPS EG SUBJECT: MOD INDICATES WILLINGESS TO SIGN LOR FOR COUNTER-TUNNELING EQUIPMENT REF: CAIRO 3308 Classified By: DCM Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) As a result of the recent visit and recommendations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers counter-tunneling experts (reftel),MoD Assistant Minister of Defense for Armament MG Fouad told OMC MG Collings on November 25 that Minister of Defense Field Marshal Tantawi had agreed to sign a proposed Letter of Request (LOR) for $23 million worth of FMF-funded counter-tunneling equipment recommended by the USACE tunneling team. MG Fouad relayed that FM Tantawi had told him to approve the $23 million "and more if they need it." ¶2. (C) Comment: The Egyptians had initially indicated they would make a decision on the LOR by December 15. This apparently very quick turnaround is welcome. Tanatawi had agreed in principle to similar but less specific recommendations a year ago and ended up not signing an LOR. The USACE report gave us the technical arguments needed, and the Egyptians are conscious of their standing in Congress if they take no action. While Tantawi still needs to actually sign the letter, we are optimistic the MoD will sign the LOR this time. RICCIARDONE