WHY TUNISIA NEEDS US FMF

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000315

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FORE AND ACTING
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS MULL
FROM THE AMBASSADOR
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/FO (WELCH AND GRAY),NEA/MAG (HARRIS AND
HOPKINS),NEA/RA AND PM
DOD FOR OSD (WHELAN)
EUCOM PLEASE PASS AFRICOM (WARD)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2018
TAGS: MASS PTER MARR PGOV PREL TS
SUBJECT: WHY TUNISIA NEEDS US FMF

Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) On March 10, al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM) announced it had kidnapped two Austrian
tourists in Tunisia's southern desert region. While it
remains unclear if the tourists were abducted on Tunisian
soil, the threat of al-Qaeda to Tunisia is real and growing.
It can be measured in many ways, from the increased number of
reports of extremist planning attacks to the take down of a
large terrorist group a year ago. The Government of Tunisia,
specifically the Ministry of Defense, has asked for US
assistance to combat this threat by, in part, strengthening
control of its borders. Embassy Tunis, proposal for $34.7
million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) in FY-10 would
help meet the GOT's need and support the fight against terror
in North Africa.


2. (C/NF) The GOT was dismayed by the Administration's FY
2008 and FY 2009 budget proposals to slash FMF for Tunisia.
The GOT hears our strong rhetorical support for their efforts
to combat terrorism, but found our proposals for deep cuts in
FMF inconsistent with it. The GOT believes our FMF
contribution is essential to their security, and that they
would be hard pressed without it. Frankly, at a moment of
danger, the GOT now doubts the United States is prepared to
help combat the spread of regional terrorism and violent
extremism.


3. (C/NF) In the past two years, the Ministry of Defense
(MOD) has taken on new counterterrorism responsibilities and
has deployed troops, equipment and resources to the border
regions to prevent terrorists from gaining a foothold in
Tunisia. However, the MOD's budget is small, limited by the
GOT's own meager resources. Sensibly, the GOT focuses most
of its budget on social programs, development and education,
all also critical to combating extremism. Today, the
Tunisian military relies on decades old US-origin equipment
that it lacks the parts to maintain. Our FY-10 FMF request
would allow Tunisia to expand flight hours in the border
regions, obtain modern border surveillance equipment, and
apply the latest CT techniques to its efforts. Without our
support, the military's counterterrorism capabilities -- and
success -- will be hobbled.


4. (C/NF) Last year I made a similar argument for increased
FY-09 FMF for Tunisia, but we were unable to respond to
Tunisia's needs. Today, the threat continues to grow, and
we must do more to assist Tunisia. The Government of Tunisia
shares our views on the
importance of combating terrorism. If we want Tunisia's
support in addressing the scourge of Muslim extremism, we
must provide the foreign assistance that will directly
strengthen Tunisia's own efforts.

Please visit Embassy Tunis' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/tunis/index.c fm
GODEC