US embassy cable - 05CAIRO3112

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003112 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MASS, EG 
SUBJECT: NEW EGYPTIAN DONATION TO AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY 
 
REF: A. CAIRO 2896 (NOTAL) 
     B. MARCH 28 LETTER FROM MOD TO OMC 
     C. CAIRO 1501 (NOTAL) 
     D. CAIRO EG IIR 6 899 0041 05 (NOTAL) 
     E. STATE 4896 (NOTAL) 
     F. 03 CAIRO 3080 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  The Egyptian Ministry of Defense (MoD) 
responded to ref E request, relayed through State and 
military channels and reinforced by a letter of request from 
CENTCOM, to donate much needed arms and ammunition to the 
Afghan National Army.  Egypt made an identical donation in 
2003 (ref F).  The MoD states that it wants to provide 
airlift for a portion of this donation.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C)  Upon receipt of ref E request for donations of arms 
and ammunition to the Afghan National Army, Post engaged 
carefully with the Egyptian MoD to solicit a positive reply. 
CENTCOM supplied a letter of request which helped prompt 
Egypt to make an offer to essentially duplicate a donation of 
materiel sent to Afghanistan in April, 2003 (ref F).  The 
content of the donation mirrors that requested: 
 
-- 5,000 Automatic rifles, iron stock 7.62 x 39 mm 
-- 2,969 Automatic rifles, wooden stock 7.62 x 39 mm 
-- 560 Pistols 9mm 
-- 1,754,000 rounds (ball) 7.62 x 39 mm 
-- 400,000 rounds (tracer) 7.62 x 39 mm 
-- 621,600 rounds (ball) 7.62 x 54 mm 
-- 147,600 rounds (tracer) 7.62 x 54 mm 
-- 49,200 rounds (armor) 7.62 x 54 mm 
-- 13,500 rounds 9 mm 
-- 1,635 case/belt (Grinove) 7.62 x 54 mm 
 
All items are listed as "new" and the MoD has stated its 
desire to help transport a portion of these items to 
Afghanistan in spite of many operational demands placed on 
its own C-130 aircraft. 
 
3.  (C)  This contribution to Afghanistan builds upon a prior 
donation of arms and ammunition in 2003, over 60 metric tons 
of humanitarian supplies sent early in Operation Enduring 
Freedom (OEF), and an Egyptian military field hospital at 
Bagram Air Base which has been operational for over two years 
(and has treated over 100,000 patients).  In addition to tens 
of thousands of overflight approvals and expedited transits 
through the Suez Canal, Egypt feels that it is lending 
generous support to coalition efforts in Afghanistan. 
 
4.  (C)  Comment:  The MoD insisted that CENTCOM be involved 
in this request and seeks to solidify strong ties with 
CENTCOM by making this donation.  The airlift component was 
the more difficult part of the request, finally approved by 
the MoD after Post's insistent requests, reinforced by direct 
statements from CENTCOM that Egyptian participation in the 
airlift effort would be a welcome sign of Egypt's engagement 
in Afghanistan (ref A).  Post will continue to seek Egyptian 
support for stability operations in Afghanistan.  End comment. 
 
5.  (U)  Kabul minimize considered. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
GRAY