RECOGNITION OF EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE ON BLUE

UNCLAS STATE 044870 SIPDIS SIPDIS BANGKOK FOR AMBASSADOR ERIC G. JOHN FROM ACTING PM A/S AMB STEPHEN MULL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC ETTC KOMC TH SUBJECT: RECOGNITION OF EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE ON BLUE LANTERN END-USE CHECKS: THOMAS HINES REF: 07 STATE 43687 ¶1. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding performance of political-military officer Thomas Hines and the foreign service nationals of Embassy Bangkok's political section for their timely and thorough investigation of Blue Lantern cases. As you know, the Blue Lantern program is the Department's primary instrument for monitoring the end-use of exported defense articles, technology, and services. This program is indispensable to PM's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls in making informed licensing decisions, discovering illicit supply networks, and deterring diversions of U.S. military articles and technology. ¶2. I am pleased to note that Mr. Hines and his FSN colleagues have continued Embassy Bangkok's long and proud tradition of extraordinary efforts and results (reftel). Since December 2007, Mr. Hines and his FSN colleagues have conducted ten Blue Lantern checks, providing detailed responses and closing each in a timely manner. Embassy Bangkok's Blue Lantern team not only demonstrated diligence, efficiency, and professionalism, they also offered hard-won and valuable insights into firearms importation laws and practices as well as domestic security and firearms issues. Mr. Hines and his FSN colleagues have tackled several complex cases, conducting extensive research and connecting many disparate dots in order to paint a full picture for PM/DDTC. This information in turn allowed PM/DDTC to make more informed licensing and policy decisions and to better fulfill Congressional reporting requirements. ¶3. The PM Bureau and the Department are grateful for the efforts of Mr. Hines and his FSN colleagues in Embassy Bangkok's political section, which have demonstrably contributed to the security and integrity of U.S. defense trade. RICE