LEBANON: GOL WANTS TO REDUCE ITS MANPADS STOCKPILE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000647 SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, AND PM/WRA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2028 TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP MOS PARM PINR PINS LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL WANTS TO REDUCE ITS MANPADS STOCKPILE REF: A. STATE 30482 ¶B. IIR 6 857 0234 08 Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S/NF) In a March 26 meeting, DATT informed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) officials of the appointment of Ambassador Bloomfield as the Special Envoy for MANPADS Threat Reduction. GOL officials also expressed great interest in relinquishing MANPADS within their possession during a March 3-7 visit by Dennis F. Hadrick, Program Manager within the Department of State's Bureau of Political and Military Affairs (PM),Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. However, the GOL lacks the technical and financial ability to carry out this task on its own and welcomes USG help. (reftel A) ¶2. (S/NF) The following is a summary of a report written by Dennis Hadrick, which highlights the GOL's willingness to relinquish its MANPADS stockpile, as well as describes the needs of the GOL to establish a program to secure, store, and ultimately destroy its stockpile of MANPADS. End Summary. GOL WANTS TO REDUCE MANPADS -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) In a March 26 meeting, DATT informed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander, General Michel Sleiman, and LAF G-2 Intelligence Directorate Commander, General Michel Khoury, of the appointment of Ambassador Bloomfield as the Special Envoy for MANPADS Threat Reduction. Both Generals responded to the news positively and based on this news, expressed great interest in speeding up an already planned MANPADS reduction program in Lebanon. ¶4. (S/NF) The initiated MANPADS program began during a March 3-7 visit by Dennis F. Hadrick, Program Manager within the Department of State's Bureau of Political and Military Affairs (PM),Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. During his visit, Hadrick discussed inclusion of a MANPADS component into the PM/WRA's Humanitarian Assistance (HMA) Program in Lebanon. Hadrick described the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) and the Lebanese Engineering Regiment (LER) as being very interested in including a MANPADS component to the HMA program and after three days of canvassing the subject, Hadrick gained access to the central Loueize ammunition depot (NOTE: LMAC and the LER are two of the lead GOL institutions involved in the removal of unexploded ordnance and battle area clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal. End Note.) ¶5. (S/NF) Hadrick observed a number of MANPADS, according to his report. According to the depot commander, LTC George Moussa, the grip stocks and batteries are held in separate bunkers (reftel B),Hadrick reported. Hadrick said the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is very receptive to allow PM/WRA to destroy the MANPADS in its possession, and the LAF requested safety and training opportunities in return. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO GOL'S MANPADS -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Improving the security of sensitive munitions stored in the Loueize Central Ammunition Depot and providing training to the LAF to improve their capabilities in dealing with all aspects of munitions operations, specifically storage and disposal, is a key goal of the LAF, according to Hadrick's report. ¶7. (S/NF) To assist the LAF in disposing of its stockpiles of MANPADS and other munitions, Hadrick recommended adding a Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Team of two additional explosive ordnance experts (EOD) to DynCorp International's existing WRA staff in Lebanon. DynCorp currently holds the BEIRUT 00000647 002 OF 002 PM/WRA contract to remove unexploded ordnance and battle area clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal. ¶8. (S/NF) As it relates to MANPADS, this team's principal task would be training and assisting the LAF in the disposal of MANPADS, as well as a significant quantity of other obsolete weapons and unserviceable munitions (to include MANPADS). This could be accomplished within two weeks after the team arrived in Lebanon and made the necessary preparations, Hadrick wrote. POTENTIAL PROGRAM COST -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) The first phase of a phased approach to address the proposed CWD program (to include MANPADS) in Lebanon would consist of a one time mobilization estimated cost of $60,000. The estimated monthly cost for a CWD Team is $45,000. the total estimated cost for a CWD Team for 12 months is $600,000 to $700,000. Post understands that PM/WRA hopes to have initiated a new MANPADS/CWD program in Lebanon, and supports that. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (S/NF) Post fully supports the implementation of a MANPADS program in Lebanon. Hadrick's report provides a number of recommendations on how to address the MANPADS issue in Lebanon. Post requests Department guidance on next steps. End Comment. SISON