LEBANON: BLOOMFIELD PROMOTES MANPADS DESTRUCTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001666

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO, PM FOR MORIMOTO
ALSO FOR IO A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
P FOR HMUSTAPHA AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: BLOOMFIELD PROMOTES MANPADS DESTRUCTION
WITH ARMY COMMANDER

REF: BEIRUT 1634

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

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


1. (C) Ambassador Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr., Special Envoy
for Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS),addressed the
need for control of MANPAD weapons with Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) Commander General Kahwaji, took a tour of LAF munitions
storage depots, and met with several Lebanese interlocutors
during his November 11-13 visit to Beirut. On MANPADS,
Bloomfield expressed appreciation to Kahwaji for the LAF's
efforts to date in controlling and destroying MANPADS, and
offered further support for depot modernization. Kahwaji
stressed the need for urgent delivery of M60 tanks and attack
helicopters. Political contacts expressed their concern
about March 14's ability to maintain its majority after the
spring 2009 parliamentary elections if it did not present a
more unified front. End summary.


2. (C) During his November 11-13 visit to Beirut, Ambassador
Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. accompanied by Special Assistant
Sho Morimoto, met with General Jean Kahwaji, LAF Commander,
retired Generals Adonis Nehme and Tannous Mouawad, Sarkis
Naoum, columnist for An-Nahar newspaper, and Simon Karam,
former Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S.

ARMY COMMANDER URGES QUICK
DELIVERY OF TANKS, ATTACK HELICOPTERS
--------------


3. (C) Kahwaji expressed appreciation for U.S. support of the
LAF's military modernization program but reiterated his need
for more mobile and lethal weaponry. He told Bloomfield he
cannot be patient waiting for U.S. M60 tanks and attack
helicopters. He asserted that the army needs to be more
mobile and have the capacity to send small units to trouble
spots quickly. When Amb Bloomfield asked about Russian
offers of equipment, Kahwaji replied that he prefers to work
with the U.S., but U.S. offers of assistance are not coming
to fruition quickly enough.

LAF SUPPORT ON MANPADS CONTROL
--------------


4. (C) Kahwaji was hesitant to discuss details of the MANPADS
destruction. (Note: MANPADS destruction is a sensitive topic
due to public perception that the armed forces would be
giving up control of a valuable air defense weapon, a concern
highlighted by daily overflights of Israeli military
aircraft. The first MANPAD, a Russian made SA-7, was
destroyed in October. End note.) He said he was not aware of
any problems with MANPADS in the control of militias.
Bloomfield noted that the U.S. had given nearly $1 million to
the LAF for munitions depot upgrades, and said he would
advocate for more if the LAF continues its MANPADS
destruction efforts.


5. (C) Bloomfield met with LAF officers at the Louazie
Munitions Depot in the suburbs of Beirut. The commanding
officer showed Bloomfield storage bunkers and small arms
ammunition manufacturing and de-milling equipment. Most of
the equipment is 30 years old and the storage bunkers date to
the 1920s. There is no climate control and residential homes
now surround the depot, posing a threat to civilians.
Bloomfield said he would explore possibilities for additional
U.S. funding for upgrades.

LACK OF MARCH 14 UNITY COULD
COST IT THE ELECTIONS
--------------


6. (C) Both retired generals, Nehme and Mouawad, told
Bloomfield they expected the March 8 opposition to make gains
in the spring 2009 parliamentary elections, citing March 14's
failure to present a unified message. Mouawad was

BEIRUT 00001666 002 OF 002


pessimistic about the amount of control Hizballah had over
the political scene in Lebanon. He cited the May 2008
uprising in Beirut as an example of what Hizballah can do
when it wants. He said there would be more of the same type
behavior by Hizballah if the elections did not come out in
its favor. Mouawad, who now is chairman of his own political
polling institute, stated that from his most recent polls in
October, he cold not see a clear winner in the elections.
In a eparate meeting (Reftel),Ambassador Karam also
tressed the need for increased March 14 unity. He asserted
that the current Lebanese government should open talks with
Israel, if even indirectly, adding that not resolving Sheba'a
allowed Hizballah to use it as a pretext to maintain its
arms.


7. Ambassador Bloomfield has not had an opportunity to clear
this cable.

SISON