US embassy cable - 05SANAA3430

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 003430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, MASS, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: LTG WHITCOMB DISCUSSES MILITARY COOPERATION WITH 
MOD, MOI 
 
REF: A. SANAA 2487 
     B. SANAA 2848 
     C. SANAA 1037 
 
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1.  (C).  Summary.  Visiting U.S. ARCENT Commander LTG 
Whitcomb met with the Ministers of Defense and Interior on 
November 29.  Both Ministers expressed their gratitude for 
USG assistance in strengthening Yemen's ability to combat 
terrorism. LTG Whitcomb thanked the ROYG for its support in 
the GWOT and looked forward to increased cooperation between 
Yemeni and American security forces. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
MOD: We're in for a Long Fight, Al-Houthi Still a Problem 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
2.  (C)  Minister of Defense MG Abdullah Ali Aliwa expressed 
gratitude for USG assistance and looked forward to increased 
support, saying he anticipates the fight against terrorism 
will be "a long conflict."  "We suffer from Al Qaeda just 
like you," he continued.  Aliwa considered President Saleh's 
recent Washington visit to be "very positive" and promised to 
continue working with the Office of Military Cooperation 
(OMC) to develop a long-term strategic plan (ref A) for 
strengthening and modernizing the Yemeni armed forces. 
 
3.  (C) In addition to combating groups like Al Qaeda, Aliwa 
stated that the military is also confronted with difficult 
internal security threats.  He complained that the release of 
imprisoned supporters of slain rebel cleric Hussein Al-Houthi 
(ref B) presented "real problems" for the military as they 
immediately returned to fighting upon their release.  (Note: 
President Saleh pardoned Al-Houthi supporters as part of the 
annual Ramadan amnesty release.  The original intent of the 
amnesty was to undercut support for the insurgency.  End 
Note). 
 
4.  (C)  LTG Whitcomb thanked Aliwa for his forces' support 
in the GWOT and commended YSOF's performance during the 
Al-Houthi conflict (ref C). He also looked forward to 
exploring new areas of cooperation between the U.S. and 
Yemeni armies through joint exercises and seminars. Aliwa was 
receptive to LTG Whitcomb,s report that ARCENT is planning a 
Mountain Warfare Seminar with his staff that incorporates 
Operation Enduring Freedom lessons learned.  LTG Whitcomb 
encouraged MOD to send a representative to a February 2006 
Land Forces Symposium in Atlanta to discuss mutual regional 
security concerns, such as border security. 
 
------------------------- 
MOI:  Building on Success 
------------------------- 
 
5.  (C)  LTG Whitcomb also praised MOI's Central Security 
Force - Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) for its operations 
during the Al-Houthi conflict.  He explained that ARCENT's 
primary focus will be on increased cooperation with the 
Yemeni army, but wanted to explore ways to support MOI's 
"great successes" with the CTU and the Yemen Coast Guard. 
LTG Whitcomb stressed the importance of building upon success 
and integrating the CTU with regular military, regional and 
American forces, especially with regard to sharing 
intelligence. 
 
6.  (C)  Alimi also expressed his gratitude for USG 
assistance in establishing and developing the YCG and CTU, 
which even in their infancy have made valuable contributions 
to strengthening Yemen's borders and combating terrorism.  He 
hoped to expand the CTU beyond its current 150 member size in 
order to adequately confront the "difficulties and 
complications" of combating terrorism in Yemen.  Alimi also 
encouraged the USG to lean on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
countries to provide more bilateral aid and aggressively 
tackle terrorist financing flows into Yemen. 
 
7.  (U) This cable was cleared by LTG Whitcomb. 
Krajeski