US embassy cable - 05SANAA2487

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, MASS, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: MOD DEMONSTRATES NEW FOUND COOPERATIVE SPIRIT IN 
ADVANCE OF SALEH VISIT 
 
REF: SANAA 2465 
 
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary.  On August 28, Office of Military Cooperation 
(OMC) Chief met with Minister of Defense MG Abdallah Ali 
Aleiwa, Director of Military Intelligence BG Ali Ahmed 
Al-Sayyani, and Commander of the Yemen Special Operations 
Forces (YSOF) Colonel Ahmed Saleh.  At the behest of 
President Saleh, Aleiwa discussed MOD's new Counter Terrorism 
and Border Security Plan.  End Summary. 
 
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SALEH TO MOD: TIME FOR CLOSER COOPERATION 
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2.  (C) As promised during the recent visit of MGen Ghormley 
(reftel), Aleiwa shared an armed forces strategic development 
plan with OMC Chief, laying out Yemeni military training and 
equipment requirements over the next five years.  Aleiwa 
expressed his willingness to work closely with OMC, stressing 
that Saleh himself directed MOD to develop a plan that USG 
found "realistic and executable." OMC Chief looked forward to 
providing assistance to strengthening CT-efforts, but 
emphasized that USG participation in refining the plan did 
not equate to a financial commitment.  Aleiwa agreed to a 
working level meeting with OMC officials to discuss the plan 
further, at which time an Arabic and English copy will be 
presented. 
 
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Comment 
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3.  (C) A willingness to actively engage with OMC, especially 
on a working level, is a significant improvement in OMC-MOD 
cooperation.  The fact that this new found spirit of 
cooperation stems from a presidential order is a promising 
sign that Saleh understands CT cooperation must improve 
before his Washington visit. 
 
4.  (C) Although MOD still displays a lack of understanding 
of the FMF process and likely views the CT plan as an invoice 
for USG support, their willingness to discuss long-term 
planning requirements is encouraging.  A comprehensive 
evaluation of equipment and training needs would be a 
distinct departure from the case by case demands currently 
being made, and will allow OMC to more efficiently focus 
limited FMF resources to support CT and border security 
efforts. 
 
5.  (C)  Post will provid a more detailed anaylsis of the CT 
and Border Security Plan after receiving the English copy. 
 
Krajeski