Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TUNIS322
2009-05-28 17:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
SUPPORTIONG TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0322 1481747 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281747Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6323 INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEPGCA/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEWMFD/USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TUNIS 000322
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM ACTINE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GREG DELAWIE
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG (MHAYES, JPATTERSON) AND PM/PPA
(NPORRECA, JKNOCH)
PASS DOD FOR AFRICOM SSP/SC (DCINNAMOND) AND OSD/ISA/NESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PTER KITA TS
SUBJECT: SUPPORTIONG TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A
FY09 1206 TRANCH 2 PROPOSAL
REF: PANNAMAN-AFRICOM/SSP 03/27/09 E-MAIL ENTITLED
"TUNISIA FY09 1206 TRANCHE 2"
UNCLAS TUNIS 000322
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM ACTINE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GREG DELAWIE
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG (MHAYES, JPATTERSON) AND PM/PPA
(NPORRECA, JKNOCH)
PASS DOD FOR AFRICOM SSP/SC (DCINNAMOND) AND OSD/ISA/NESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PTER KITA TS
SUBJECT: SUPPORTIONG TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A
FY09 1206 TRANCH 2 PROPOSAL
REF: PANNAMAN-AFRICOM/SSP 03/27/09 E-MAIL ENTITLED
"TUNISIA FY09 1206 TRANCHE 2"
1. (SBU) As requested in Reftel, OSC Tunis submitted a FY09
Section 1206 Tranche 2 proposal to AFRICOM Security
Assistance Branch via e-mail on 27 March 2009. The proposal,
entitled "Tunisian Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO)
Vessel Enhancement Package," seeks to provide approximately
$7.5 million in immediate assistance to the Tunisian Navy for
the acquisition of interdiction vessels necessary to counter
the emerging terrorist threat posed by Al Qaida in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and growing regional security
threats linked to illicit weapons and smuggling drugs. As
AQIM continues to evolve into a more effective and lethal
organization capable of developing new tactics, techniques
and procedures to move and employ personnel and materiel
throughout the region, the requirement to effectively and
safely conduct fast-response maritime interdiction/boarding
operations becomes important to the security of US interests
in the region.
2. (SBU) Specifically, this 1206 proposal seeks to provide
the Tunisian Navy with the vessels necessary to support fast
response interdiction operations into its economic exclusion
zone, support its transition from Level I/Level II
(compliant/non-compliant) boardings to Level IV (opposed)
boardings, and support its mission of force
protection/high-value asset protection. Due to a lack of
surface interdiction vessels with sufficient range, armament
and operability across all sea states, the Navy is currently
unable to conduct sustained fast response missions in its
economic exclusion zone and the type of opposed boardings
required to effectively conduct maritime counter-terrorism
operations. The addition of six high-speed boats with
improved range (doubling the range of Tunisia's current fast
response capability) and lethality will increase the
effectiveness of the Tunisian Navy's counter-terrorism
operations.
3. (SBU) I urge the Department and USAFRICOM to support this
proposal and continue to back the Tunisian Government's
efforts to combat the transnational terrorist threat posed by
AQIM as well as other illicit activities which could be
employed by AQIM to further their cause.
Godec
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM ACTINE ASSISTANT SECRETARY GREG DELAWIE
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG (MHAYES, JPATTERSON) AND PM/PPA
(NPORRECA, JKNOCH)
PASS DOD FOR AFRICOM SSP/SC (DCINNAMOND) AND OSD/ISA/NESA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PTER KITA TS
SUBJECT: SUPPORTIONG TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A
FY09 1206 TRANCH 2 PROPOSAL
REF: PANNAMAN-AFRICOM/SSP 03/27/09 E-MAIL ENTITLED
"TUNISIA FY09 1206 TRANCHE 2"
1. (SBU) As requested in Reftel, OSC Tunis submitted a FY09
Section 1206 Tranche 2 proposal to AFRICOM Security
Assistance Branch via e-mail on 27 March 2009. The proposal,
entitled "Tunisian Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO)
Vessel Enhancement Package," seeks to provide approximately
$7.5 million in immediate assistance to the Tunisian Navy for
the acquisition of interdiction vessels necessary to counter
the emerging terrorist threat posed by Al Qaida in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and growing regional security
threats linked to illicit weapons and smuggling drugs. As
AQIM continues to evolve into a more effective and lethal
organization capable of developing new tactics, techniques
and procedures to move and employ personnel and materiel
throughout the region, the requirement to effectively and
safely conduct fast-response maritime interdiction/boarding
operations becomes important to the security of US interests
in the region.
2. (SBU) Specifically, this 1206 proposal seeks to provide
the Tunisian Navy with the vessels necessary to support fast
response interdiction operations into its economic exclusion
zone, support its transition from Level I/Level II
(compliant/non-compliant) boardings to Level IV (opposed)
boardings, and support its mission of force
protection/high-value asset protection. Due to a lack of
surface interdiction vessels with sufficient range, armament
and operability across all sea states, the Navy is currently
unable to conduct sustained fast response missions in its
economic exclusion zone and the type of opposed boardings
required to effectively conduct maritime counter-terrorism
operations. The addition of six high-speed boats with
improved range (doubling the range of Tunisia's current fast
response capability) and lethality will increase the
effectiveness of the Tunisian Navy's counter-terrorism
operations.
3. (SBU) I urge the Department and USAFRICOM to support this
proposal and continue to back the Tunisian Government's
efforts to combat the transnational terrorist threat posed by
AQIM as well as other illicit activities which could be
employed by AQIM to further their cause.
Godec