LEBANON: ARMY DESTROYS ITS FIRST MANPAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001499 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR PM/FO AND PM/WRA-DAVID DIAZ, STEPHANIE PICO 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 PTER UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: ARMY DESTROYS ITS FIRST MANPAD REF: A: IIR 6851023408 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On October 16, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) demolition experts destroyed their first MANPAD (Man-Portable Air Defense System),a Russian made SA-7 (serial# 9()54M-04-73-04774, 9M32M-04774). This demolition reflects an agreement with the Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA) to destroy part of the LAF's existing MANPAD stock in exchange for Department of State funding for physical security and stockpile management assistance for at-risk arms and munitions in LAF depots. The demolition was coordinated with U.S. Government contractor DynCorp and the Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC); ODC Chief and PolMilOff attended the demolition. Although they hoped the LAF would destroy more than one MANPAD at the site, DynCorp officials agreed it was a positive step forward for the LAF. ¶2. (C) RWA allocated nearly $1 million in fiscal year 2008 Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Program (NADR) funds for Lebanon for conventional weapon destruction and security of stockpiles. DynCorp is using the money to fund a conventional weapons destruction team in Lebanon to assist with MANPADS destruction and depot upgrades. ¶3. (C) The LAF has more MANPADS in depots. Over the past year, LAF, DynCorp, ODC, and WRA inspectors determined that many lacked adequate security and modern storage facilities. According to DynCorp's program manager for conventional weapons destruction in Lebanon, the first upgrade is the construction of a $400,000 security fence around the Loueize depot. One of the larger depots, Loueize, situated near civilian residential areas, is an easy target for theft or destruction. The perimeter fence will provide security around its storage facilities housing ammunition, conventional weapons, and additional MANPADS. SISON