BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF MAY 20, 2008

Reference ID 08BEIRUT730
Date 2008-05-20 07:00
Released 2010-12-01 19:07
Classification SECRET//NOFORN
Origin Embassy Beirut


P 201900Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1963
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY



S E C R E T BEIRUT 000730

NOFORN

STATE FOR DS/CC; DS/DSS/ITA; DS/IP/NEA; NEA/EX, S/CRS
POSTS FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2018
TAGS: ASEC, PTER
SUBJECT: BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF MAY 20, 2008

REF: A. BEIRUT 717
B. BEIRUT 709

Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)

1. (SBU/NF) At 1645 hours on May 20, 2008, CDA convened a
meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC). Present
were A/DCM, CON, DAO, LEGATT, MGMT, PD, Special Assistant,
RAO and RSO. Embassy has met all of the initial reverse
tripwires for standing down Embassy Beirut Logistical Support
Mission (EBLSM)--ref B. However, sustainability of secure
passage through Beirut International Airport and sustained
secure access via the airport access roads are the key final
factors needed to stand down the Air Bridge. We will
continue to assess the security situation over the next few
days to ensure that the current situation is sustainable.

2. (SNF) Security assessments on May 19 and May 20 reveal
that Beirut International Airport (BIA) appears to be
operating as it was before May 7, 2008. We feel that we have
met all of the reverse tripwires (Ref B). RSO and DAO have
conducted security assessments and met key security contacts
at Beirut International Airport.

3. (S/NF) DAO informed EAC that the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) have not/not yet granted clearance for U.S. helicopters
to enter Lebanon from Cyprus on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. The
request for the flights was officially filed with the
Ministry of Interior, which needs to first grant
authorization before the LAF can issue a flight plan.

4. (S/NF) EAC discussed the following considerations:

a. The Beirut International Airport is now open. Our GOL
interlocutors are pressuring us to suspend EBLSM Operations
as the original reasons for EBLSM (lack of access to BIA) has
changed. However, as the situation (National Dialogue
discussions) in Doha remains fluid, we cannot be confident
that our access to the airport will be sustainable.

b. Embassy Beirut appreciates EUCOM's requirement to provide
advanced notice before terminating the Air Bridge requirement
and wishes to avoid taking down the EBLSM infrastructure
while we are still in the process of determining the
feasibility and sustainability of Beirut International
Airport to support U.S.Embassy Beirut operations.

c. Before Embassy Beirut terminates the EBLSM, we propose
that we conduct operational testing of the Beirut
International Airport. We would not have to fly the EBLSM
during this testing phase. Specifically, we should work to
bring in military flights into Beirut International Airport
as well as Embassy employees and TDYers on civilian airlines.
If our RSO assesses that these operations are sustainable
from a security perspective, we could then look at standing
down the EBLSM. These tasks could be accomplished by early
next week if all things go well here in Beirut and there is
no fall out from Doha negotiations.

5. (S/NF) EAC agreed to the points listed in paragraph 4 and
will begin scheduling PCS employees for return tomorrow night
to enter Lebanon through Beirut International Airport. This
was discussed at the 1700 local time/1200 EST SVTC with
EUCOM, JCS, CENTCOM, Embassy Nicosia S/CMS. M, NEA/ELA, PM
and CA/OLS and all present concurred with this plan.


SISON




Source: Wikileaks