COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT OF FY 2010 1206 REQUEST

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001152 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MCAP MASS LE SUBJECT: COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT OF FY 2010 1206 REQUEST REF: STATE 92407 THIS CABLE IS A CORRECTED VERSION OF BEIRUT 1008 (TEXT ADDED) ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Beirut fully supports the FY10 section 1206 proposal as submitted by the Office of Defense Cooperation ODC) Lebanon. This proposal, which addresses Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),special operations forces (SOF), counter-terrorism (CT) and weapons support, reinforces the mission's strategic goals of CT cooperation and military-to-military engagement with the LAF. The proposal provides mobile, heavy weapons (MK-19 40mm grenade launchers and M2 .50 caliber machine guns) and organic indirect fire support (120mm mortars) to the LAF,s SOF regiments. The inherent versatility of the weapons platoon as part of the SOF regiment makes it well-suited for use against asymmetrical threats during CT operations. The release and employment of the equipment identified in this proposal will facilitate progress toward DoS, DoD and LAF shared goals. Post is not aware of any credible evidence of gross violations of human rights by the units who are proposed to receive assistance. ¶2. (SBU) The LAF urgently requires assistance from the U.S. to improve its ability to conduct CT operations and secure its borders. The equipment identified in this proposal is one step forward to increasing the LAF's capabilities and securing its place as the country's dominant provider of military power. ¶3. (SBU) This Section 1206 program will help build the capacity of this partner nation's eligible forces to conduct CT operations by providing equipment to build their capability to provide indirect fire during CT operations, especially in urban areas such as Nahr al-Bared and other densely populated Palestinian refugee camps. Acting on the proposal's requests will also provide the LAF increased urban warfare capabilities to combat Sunni extremist groups and Palestinian rejectionist groups which often use refugee camps as safe havens. ¶4. (SBU) Indirect fire in future CT operations is an important application for LAF artillery. However, the fire direction limitations of the LAF's artillery prevent its effective use in urban CT operations due to the potential for high levels of collateral damage. Therefore, improved artillery targeting systems which offer the LAF the ability to identify and carry out high-precision fire are critical to avoiding civilian casualties and reducing risks to non-combatants. SISON