Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI441
2008-04-06 13:44:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE INVESTIGATION OF SUPPLY OF MATERIALS TO IRAQI INSURGENTS

Tags:  ETTC PARM PREL IZ AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4551
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #0441 0971344
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 061344Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0751
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0421
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 7678
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000441 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2033
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAE INVESTIGATION OF SUPPLY OF MATERIALS TO IRAQI INSURGENTS

REF: A. STATE 30017

B. 07 ABU DHABI 1803 (NOTAL)

C. 07 ABU DHABI 1726 (NOTAL)

D. 07 STATE 144977

Classified by: CDA Martin Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 000441

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2033
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL IZ AE
SUBJECT: UAE INVESTIGATION OF SUPPLY OF MATERIALS TO IRAQI INSURGENTS

REF: A. STATE 30017

B. 07 ABU DHABI 1803 (NOTAL)

C. 07 ABU DHABI 1726 (NOTAL)

D. 07 STATE 144977

Classified by: CDA Martin Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Econchief met with MFA International Organizations Director
Yacub Al-Hosani on March 26 to request an update on the status of the
investigation of Modern Plastics Industry (MPI) and the A&N group for
possible involvement in the shipment of components to manufacture
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) employed by Iraqi insurgents.
Econchief passed photos of boxes of PVC pipes recovered in a raid on
a house in Iraq in March 2008. Al-Hosani promised to follow up with
the relevant offices in Dubai.


2. (S) On April 4, Al-Hosani provided Econchief with a status report
on the UAEG's investigation. He said that MPI had denied selling its
PVC pipes directly to Iraq. The company had 270 UAE-based customers
but had no way of knowing whether its customers were exporting the
pipes. The problem, Al-Hosani noted, was that the plastic pipes were
not controlled as "dual-use" items needing a special export permit,
but were purely civilian goods that "anyone could buy." This factor
complicated the UAE's investigations immensely. Econchief stressed
that the pipes were being used in IEDs in Iraq and that disrupting
these shipments was critical. Al-Hosani expressed his willingness to
follow up again with the organizations investigating the case.


3. (S) Comment and Action request: So far the UAE has not found the
means by which MPI's PVC pipes wound up in an insurgent arms cache in
Iraq. Post requests any additional information that can be provided
to help the UAEG with its investigations, including any "lot numbers"
or identification on the pipes themselves. Although Al-Hosani is
willing to cooperate, it is not clear how successful the UAE will be
without further information that it can use to determine how the
pipes got to Iraq. End Comment and Action Request.
Quinn