SUPPORTING TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A

UNCLAS TUNIS 00745 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM, NEA/MAG(HAYES) AND PM/PPA (PORRECA, KNOCH) DOD FOR AFRICOM SSP/SC (CINNAMOND) AND OSD/ISA/NESA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PTER KTIA TS SUBJECT: SUPPORTING TUNISIA'S COUNTER-TERRORISM EFFORT: A FY10 1206 TRANCHE 1 PROPOSAL REF: AFRICOM/SSP-PADDOCK E-MAIL EXCHANGE ENTITLED "TUNISIA FY10 1206 TRANCHE 1 FOR TUNISIAN FAST PATROL BOATS" SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (SBU) OSC Tunisia is resubmitting its FY09 Section 1206 Tranche 2 proposal to AFRICOM Security Cooperation Division, per ref e-mail exchange. The proposal,entitled "Tunisian Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) Vessel Enhancement Package," seeks to provide approximately $7.9 million in immediate assistance to the Tunisian Navy for the acquisition of six 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 is increasingly important to U.S. security 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 Tunisian 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) The Ambassador, with the concurrence of the country team, urges 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 its cause. GRAY