RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LICENSE 05-050079420

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000218 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS TO PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR AND TO BILL JENSEN NEA/I/PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC IZ KOMC SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LICENSE 05-050079420 REF: STATE 135 ¶1. (U) Post has contacted the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq (MNSTC-I) and they confirm that this is a legitimate purchase of ammunition by the Iraqi Army. The M855 ammunition is often referred to as "5.56 ball" and is the most commonly fired round for the M-16 / M-4 carbine. ¶2. (SBU) Currently, MNSTC-I has issued just over 30,000 M-16 variants and has an additional 15,000 in stock awaiting issue in conjunction with unit set fielding. This will equip six Iraqi divisions and the Presidential Brigade--which amounts to just over half of the current Iraqi Army strength. MNSTC-I assesses that this order of 39 million rounds will not satisfy the base line requirements for Iraqi Army units "basic loads and individual qualification standards". They advise that DTCC should anticipate additional orders of this same ammunition in these amounts. ¶3. (U) Regarding the bona fides of Mr. Stuart Watkins, MNSTC-I confirms that he is a U.S. government contractor under their direct employment. Mr. Watkins manages the MNSTC-I fielding plan for equipping the Iraqi Security Forces with the M-16/M-4 carbine. ¶4. (U) MNSTC-I POC: Colonel Phillip Maxwell, U.S. Army Director, Strategic Initiatives Group (914) 822-1605 phillip.maxwell@iraq.centcom.mil US Embassy Baghdad POC: Mr. Edward Gallagher PolMil, Security Cooperation and Arms Transfers (914) 822-0805 gallagherea@state.gov CROCKER