Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE44819
2008-04-28 20:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #4819 1192024 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 282017Z APR 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0000 INFO RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC 0000 RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0000 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000
UNCLAS STATE 044819
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
BANGKOK FOR THOMAS HINES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC TH KOMC
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSES 050059704, 050089662 AND 050095708
REF: (A) 07 STATE 157006 (B) 07 BANGKOK 6129
UNCLAS STATE 044819
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
BANGKOK FOR THOMAS HINES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC TH KOMC
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSES 050059704, 050089662 AND 050095708
REF: (A) 07 STATE 157006 (B) 07 BANGKOK 6129
¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. See paragraphs 2 - 4.
¶2. (U) The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests Post's assistance in conducting
a pre-license check on licenses 050059704, 050089662 and
050095708 for the export of firearms to Thailand. Post is
requested to complete this Blue Lantern check within 30 days.
Lack of response to a Blue Lantern check will affect pending
and future licenses involving parties to this license.
¶3. (SBU) Reason for Request: Three license applications were
submitted with Thailand's Department of Provincial
Administration listed as the end-user. The sum value of the
three licenses is in excess of one million dollars, thus
requiring Congressional Notification. This end-user has a
history of submitting large orders through several license
application (reftel A; reftel B). Licenses 050059704 and
050089662 have already been approved and 050095708 is still
under review. This request is to verify the bona fides of
these transactions in support of the Congressional
Notification and to determine if multiple licenses were
submitted as a deliberate attempt to circumvent US
notification regulations.
¶4. (SBU) Action Request: Post should make the appropriate
inquiries to confirm the bona fides of these transactions and
of the end-user. Post should obtain the proper documentation
from the Government of Thailand (GOT) and determine how many
purchase orders the GOT submitted to US applicant, Colt
Defense, LLC. Post should also confirm the receipt of the
firearms on 050089662 and 050059704. The following questions
are included for guidance:
- Can the GOT confirm its orders for the firearms listed on
these license applications? Why is the GOT party to three
licenses to acquire these rifles instead of one large
license? Did Colt Defense LLC recommend several small orders
as opposed to a large order?
- Why is the GOT purchasing this large quantity of M4
carbines? Are they undergoing a modernization program,
increasing numbers for personnel, etc?
- What weapons will these M4 carbines replace?
- What is the GOT going to do with the older weapons that are
being replaced?
In its reply, Post may also comment on any other information