Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT647
2008-05-10 17:30:00
SECRET
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: GOL WANTS TO REDUCE ITS MANPADS STOCKPILE
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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
--------
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
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