Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1499
2008-10-20 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: ARMY DESTROYS ITS FIRST MANPAD

Tags:  PREL PTER UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE 
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VZCZCXRO9664
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #1499 2941526
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201526Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3319
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3058
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3269
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
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).


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