SAG FORMALLY REQUESTS OPM-FSF

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001648 SIPDIS WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP, CENTCOM FOR POLAD, NAVCENT AND J5, DOE FOR KKOLEVAR AND WBRYAN, DEPARTMENT FOR P SMULL, NEA GCRETZ, S/CT AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2018 TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET MARR MCAP MOPS OVP PGOV PREL PTER, SA SUBJECT: SAG FORMALLY REQUESTS OPM-FSF REF: A. RIYADH 1619 ¶B. RIYADH 1579 ¶C. RIYADH 1408 ¶D. RIYADH 1298 Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires David Rundell for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (S) On Nov. 1, the Saudi Ministry of Interior presented to AmEmbassy Riyadh a formal Letter of Request (LOR) addressed to U.S. Central Command requesting the USG the establish the Office of Program Management - Facilities Security Force (OPM-FSF) to train and equip Saudi forces to protect Saudi Arabian critical infrastructure, with priority given to the Kingdom's energy production facilities (Reftels). Text of this LOR is in paragraph 5. ¶2. (S) This LOR is for support to establish OPM-FSF. The next step will be the USG's response via a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. This LOA is expected to be ready for delivery to the SAG by mid-December. The next Saudi step is a more substantive LOR requesting training assessments once OPM-FSF is staffed. ¶3. (S) COMMENT. This LOR is significant. It formally establishes the SAG's commitment to bringing in the USG to protect Saudi Arabia's critical infrastructure. This LOR combined with the MOI's recent agreement for the Department of Energy to conduct additional vulnerability assessments (Reftel A) has created strong momentum for Joint Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection and Border Security (JCCIP). ¶4. (S) The Saudis have told us they are looking forward to U/S Burns' visit to the Kingdom in mid-December to co-chair the JCCIP meeting. If possible, this JCCIP meeting would be an excellent venue for us to present the LOA responding to the Saudi LOR. END COMMENT. ¶5. (SBU) Text of LOR submitted by Saudi MOI: BEGIN TEXT Date: 1 November 2008 MEMORANDUM FOR Commander, United States Central Command SUBJECT: Establishing an Office of Program Management - Facilities Security Force ¶1. Under the provisions of the Armed Export Control Act, we request your assistance to initiate a Foreign Military Sales case to establish an Office of Program Management (OPM) to facilitate the development of a Facility Security Force (FSF) with paramilitary capability, whose mission is to protect our nation's critical infrastructure. ¶2. I request that this case be developed to pay personnel and support costs for the OPM. The personnel costs should provide for up to 20 personnel over the period of 3-5 years. Support to the OPM should include (but not be limited to) housing, vehicles, travel, office equipment, communications, and all necessary administrative support and quality of life programs. ¶3. It is my intent that the OPM-FSF should be established and RIYADH 00001648 002 OF 002 conducting initial operations at the earliest possible time from an office complex provided by my ministry and located in the Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ¶4. Please provide me with a LOA for review and signature at your earliest possible opportunity. Assistant Minister for Security Affairs (SIGNATURE) Mohammed bin Naif END TEXT RUNDELL