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OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0647/01 1311730
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O 101730Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1788
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000647 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, AND PM/WRA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2028 
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP MOS PARM PINR PINS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GOL WANTS TO REDUCE ITS MANPADS STOCKPILE 
 
REF: A. STATE 30482 
 
     ¶B. IIR 6 857 0234 08 
 
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) In a March 26 meeting, DATT informed the Lebanese 
Armed Forces (LAF) officials of the appointment of Ambassador 
Bloomfield as the Special Envoy for MANPADS Threat Reduction. 
 GOL officials also expressed great interest in relinquishing 
MANPADS within their possession during a March 3-7 visit by 
Dennis F. Hadrick, Program Manager within the Department of 
State's Bureau of Political and Military Affairs (PM), Office 
of Weapons Removal and Abatement.  However, the GOL lacks the 
technical and financial ability to carry out this task on its 
own and welcomes USG help. (reftel A) 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) The following is a summary of a report written by 
Dennis Hadrick, which highlights the GOL's willingness to 
relinquish its MANPADS stockpile, as well as describes the 
needs of the GOL to establish a program to secure, store, and 
ultimately destroy its stockpile of MANPADS.  End Summary. 
 
GOL WANTS TO 
REDUCE MANPADS 
-------------- 
 
¶3.  (S/NF) In a March 26 meeting, DATT informed the Lebanese 
Armed Forces (LAF) Commander, General Michel Sleiman, and LAF 
G-2 Intelligence Directorate Commander, General Michel 
Khoury, of the appointment of Ambassador Bloomfield as the 
Special Envoy for MANPADS Threat Reduction.  Both Generals 
responded to the news positively and based on this news, 
expressed great interest in speeding up an already planned 
MANPADS reduction program in Lebanon. 
 
¶4.  (S/NF) The initiated MANPADS program began during a March 
3-7 visit by Dennis F. Hadrick, Program Manager within the 
Department of State's Bureau of Political and Military 
Affairs (PM), Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. 
During his visit, Hadrick discussed inclusion of a MANPADS 
component into the PM/WRA's Humanitarian Assistance (HMA) 
Program in Lebanon.  Hadrick described the Lebanese Mine 
Action Center (LMAC) and the Lebanese Engineering Regiment 
(LER) as being very interested in including a MANPADS 
component to the HMA program and after three days of 
canvassing the subject, Hadrick gained access to the central 
Loueize ammunition depot (NOTE: LMAC and the LER are two of 
the lead GOL institutions involved in the removal of 
unexploded ordnance and battle area clearance operations and 
explosive ordnance disposal.  End Note.) 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) Hadrick observed a number of MANPADS, according to 
his report.  According to the depot commander, LTC George 
Moussa, the grip stocks and batteries are held in separate 
bunkers (reftel B), Hadrick reported.  Hadrick said the 
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is very receptive to allow PM/WRA 
to destroy the MANPADS in its possession, and the LAF 
requested safety and training opportunities in return. 
 
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS 
TO GOL'S MANPADS 
------------------ 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) Improving the security of sensitive munitions 
stored in the Loueize Central Ammunition Depot and providing 
training to the LAF to improve their capabilities in dealing 
with all aspects of munitions operations, specifically 
storage and disposal, is a key goal of the LAF, according to 
Hadrick's report. 
 
¶7.  (S/NF) To assist the LAF in disposing of its stockpiles 
of MANPADS and other munitions, Hadrick recommended adding a 
Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Team of two additional 
explosive ordnance experts (EOD) to DynCorp International's 
existing WRA staff in Lebanon.  DynCorp currently holds the 
 
BEIRUT 00000647  002 OF 002 
 
 
PM/WRA contract to remove unexploded ordnance and battle area 
clearance operations and explosive ordnance disposal. 
 
¶8.  (S/NF) As it relates to MANPADS, this team's principal 
task would be training and assisting the LAF in the disposal 
of MANPADS, as well as a significant quantity of other 
obsolete weapons and unserviceable munitions (to include 
MANPADS).  This could be accomplished within two weeks after 
the team arrived in Lebanon and made the necessary 
preparations, Hadrick wrote. 
 
POTENTIAL PROGRAM 
COST 
----------------- 
 
¶9.  (S/NF) The first phase of a phased approach to address 
the proposed CWD program (to include MANPADS) in Lebanon 
would consist of a one time mobilization estimated cost of 
$60,000.  The estimated monthly cost for a CWD Team is 
$45,000.  the total estimated cost for a CWD Team for 12 
months is $600,000 to $700,000.  Post understands that PM/WRA 
hopes to have initiated a new MANPADS/CWD program in Lebanon, 
and supports that. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶10. (S/NF) Post fully supports the implementation of a 
MANPADS program in Lebanon.  Hadrick's report provides a 
number of recommendations on how to address the MANPADS issue 
in Lebanon.  Post requests Department guidance on next steps. 
 End Comment. 
SISON