US embassy cable - 05SANAA2465

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, PTER, PARM, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: CJTF HOA COMMANDER GHORMLEY VISITS MOD AND MOI 
 
REF: A. SANAA 1854 
     B. SANAA 1836 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas Krajeski for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary. On August 23 Ambassador and visiting Combined 
Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commanding 
General, Major General (MGen) Timothy Ghormley met separately 
with Minister of Defense, Ali Abdullah Alewa, and Minister of 
Interior, Rashad al-Alimi.  Both ministers commended the 
USG-ROYG GWOT partnership and urged the U.S. to help bring 
about a solution to the Somalia conflict.  Alewa also 
committed to providing a long-term strategic force 
development plan to the Office of Military Cooperation-Yemen 
(OMC).  End Summary. 
 
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Alewa: Comprehensive Plan Forthcoming 
------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Alewa told MGen Ghormley that he was pleased with 
USG-ROYG cooperation and pushed for USG military assistance 
to expand the Yemen Special Operations Forces (YSOF).  Noting 
that there were other "deficiencies" that needed redress, 
Alewa pointed to the Yemeni Navy, saying it has been 
"neglected for too long."  Alewa added that within the week 
the MOD would pass a comprehensive long-term strategic 
development plan for the Yemeni Armed Forces.  The plan is 
expected to lay out Yemeni military training and equipment 
requirements over the next five years.  According to Alewa, 
the plan will incorporate the Navy into ROYG CT efforts and 
address the issue of intelligence sharing.  He also requested 
support to create an armed forces Medevac and rescue 
capability.  MGen Ghormley stressed the need to improve 
maritime security to control arms trafficking, and expressed 
CJTF-HOA's desire to begin training the YSOF and Navy. 
 
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Alimi: Continued Cooperation Key 
-------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Alimi told MGen Ghormley that the YCG has certainly 
reaped the rewards of USG-ROYG GWOT cooperation, pointing out 
that Yemen's increased seizures of small arms, drugs and 
illegal immigrants were a direct result of USG military 
assistance.  Alimi also told Ambassador that he planned to 
convene an International donors' meeting to ask for 
additional assistance for the YCG. 
 
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Somalia: A High Priority 
------------------------ 
 
4. (C) Echoing previous meetings, both Ministers urged the 
USG to help the newly elected Somali Government of President 
Abdullahi Yusuf and the 275-member transitional Somali 
Parliament to return to Mogadishu. (Ref. A and B).  Alewa 
asked MGen Ghormley why the U.S. was not helping.  "You 
should encourage Yusuf to go to Mogadishu, that is where the 
extremists are!"  said Alewa.  Alimi echoed Alewa, warning 
that the situation was becoming worse over time. "The USG is 
closer to Somalia than we are, you should look into it," he 
advised.  Ambassador replied that arming Yusuf would only 
encourage more violence and risk another civil war. 
Political consensus, he continued, is the best solution for a 
stable and secure Somalia. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  If MOD follows through with its commitment 
to provide a long-term strategic force development plan, it 
would be a significant improvement in OMC-MOD cooperation, 
also allowing OMC to more efficiently focus limited FMF 
resources to support CT and border security efforts. 
Although coordination with MOD will likely remain a 
challenge, building a relationship with YSOF presents the 
best near-term strategy for increased cooperation, and 
provide a valuable opportunity to build a cooperative 
relationship with President Saleh's son and possible heir, 
YSOF Commander Ahmed Ali Saleh. End Comment. 
Krajeski