LEBANON: ARMY COMMANDERS LAMENT DEMINING PROBLEMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001347

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
PM FOR A/S KIMMITT AND HADRICK
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ARMY COMMANDERS LAMENT DEMINING PROBLEMS

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a September 10 meeting, Brigadier General (BG)
Mohammed Fehmi, Commander of the Lebanese Mine Action Center
(LMAC),stated that lack of further funding for demining
activities in southern Lebanon was a grave concern and
expressed sincere hope that the U.S. would "push LMAC's
needs" for both more funding and to pressure the Israelis for
release of accurate strike data. Presiding over an
orientation for PolOff, the General relayed the enormity of
the situation and the surface areas assigned to LMAC.
Addressing the issue of cleared surface areas, DynCorp
Project Manager Mark Craig stated that no areas cleared by
LMAC have been certified by appropriate auditors according to
International Mine Surface Standards. End Summary


2. (SBU) On September 10, PolOff met BG Mohammed Fehmi,
Commanding General of LMAC, Intelligence Officer (G-2) Col.
Emile Al-Dahar, Operations Officer LTC Rizk, and Logistical
Officer LTC Mohammed Sheikh for an update on LMAC demining
activities in Lebanon. DynCorp Project Manager for
Conventional Weapons Destruction Mark Craig also attended the
briefing. A follow-on meeting was held at the LMAC Engineer
Battalion HQ presided over by Col. Abou Jaoudi and his staff.

LMAC COMMANDERS LAMENT
LACK OF FUNDING, STRIKE DATA
--------------


3. (SBU) BG Fehmi emphasized the tremendous amount of
cleared surface area to date and the critical need for
continued funding to finish the job and restore sizable areas
of southern Lebanon to productive use. He was aware of the
ongoing efforts to obtain additional contributions from donor
nations, noting that the United Arab Emirates was a major
international donor, along with the U.S., European Union and
the United Nations. PolOff conveyed U.S. concern about the
funding problems, adding that the U.S. was exploring
remedies. BG Fehmi stated that LMAC had been very successful
in clearing the nearly 48 million square meters (sqm) of
cluster bombs, representing 79 percent of the known
contaminated area, with 146,500 cluster bombs destroyed, and
150 million sqm with mines and unexploded ordinance (UXO),
representing 61 percent cleared.


4. (C) The commander was notably annoyed at the lack of
accurate strike data from the Israelis, which he said was
important to focus on the exact contaminated areas. Asked
how the demining teams discovered contaminated areas, Rizk
stated that much information had come initially from civilian
notifications when the cluster bombs were dropped, and later
by noting the immediate area surrounding the location of
fatalities due to ordnance explosions. BG Fehmi stated that
there had been 323 casualties and 42 deaths due to cluster
bombs since August 2006.

LACK OF CERTIFICATION PROCESSES
--------------


5. (SBU) At the conclusion of the LMAC presentation PolOff
met separately with DynCorp Project Manager Mark Craig. He
spoke privately of his concern that LMAC had taken no steps
to begin a clearance certification process through a third
party auditor. He noted the International Mine Action
Standard (IMAS),part of the ISO 9000-2000, as the proper
certification standard. Craig added that the United Nations
Mine Action Center (UNMAC) has audits prepared by NGO and
private company auditors. Craig attributed lack of
certification to LMAC's Engineer Battalion Commander Col.
Abou Joudi's refusal to allow auditors in his area. Craig
added that BG Fehmi had made stern corrective comments to
Joudi over the matter. Moreover, Craig added, any further
funding needed to take into account the IMAS certification
costs, and that further funding could become contingent on
proper certification processes.


BEIRUT 00001347 002 OF 002


DEMINING BATTALION NEEDS EQUIPMENT
--------------


6. (SBU) In Poloff's follow-on meeting with Engineer
Battalion Commander Col. Joudi, he expressed repeatedly that
his battalion needed more equipment, especially "tracked mine
rollers." DynCorp's Craig added the battalion would soon
receive more hand held mine sweepers and that three slots
were being presented for demining training in Australia.
Additionally, the underwater explosive ordnance eam had just
completed a two-day training session for several members.
They expressed the need for more underwater mining to clear
areas designated for tourism and shipping business. The
officers at the meeting commented that morale was high in the
battalion and they wanted to continue with the important
work, hoping that funding and equipment shortages could be
resolved.


7. (SBU) Action Request: Request PM/WRA update on status of
proposed funding for Mine Action Group (MAG).




SISON