VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHEG #2331/01 3551154
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 211154Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4501
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T CAIRO 002331
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019
TAGS: PREL MASS PTER IR PK AF EG
SUBJECT: DNI MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER TANTAWI
Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey per 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. Key Points: -- (S/NF) During a December 10 meeting, Defense Minister Tantawi provided Director of National
Intelligence (DNI) Blair with an overview of Egyptian security concerns, including potential instability in Sudan and
Iranian interference in the region. -- (S/NF) DNI Blair stressed the importance of international intelligence
cooperation in combating terrorism and looked forward to expanding the U.S.- Egyptian military intelligence
relationship. -- (S/NF) Tantawi shared concerns over cyber security threats and agreed to cooperation between the
Egyptian military and the U.S. to combat the threat. -- (S/NF) DNI Blair briefed Tantawi on U.S. efforts in Afghanistan
and Pakistan. Tantawi stressed the importance of convincing the Afghani people that the U.S. would not remain in
Afghanistan indefinitely. He noted that Pakistan was a difficult and suspicious partner who "does not trust the
Egyptians either." -------------------------- Regional Security Concerns --------------------------
2. (S/NF) Tantawi began by providing a brief overview of regional security concerns. Tantawi said that Egypt was
"keeping an eye" on the situation in Sudan because of the Nile's crucial role in Egyptian security and stability. He
also expressed concerns over Iran. He noted Egypt maintained a good relationship with Israel and was cooperating on a
number of different issues, including border security.
3. (S/NF) Tantawi said the Egyptian military relied on a wide variety of intelligence methods to combat threats. DNI
Blair noted that the U.S. had significantly improved interagency intelligence coordination following the 9/11 attacks.
He added that cooperation with other countries was crucial to increasing our understanding of Al-Qaeda and other
terrorist organizations. DNI Blair looked forward to enhanced cooperation with the Egyptian military beyond merely
passing intelligence.
4. (S/NF) DNI Blair expressed U.S. concern over cyber security threats from hackers and other countries. Tantawi shared
these concerns and hoped the U.S. and Egypt could cooperate to combat this threat. ----------- Iran, AfPak -----------
5. (S/NF) Tantawi solicited DNI Blair's views on the status of Russian-Iranian cooperation. DNI Blair noted that the
Russians had sold a S300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran, but anticipated that Russia would not send the entire
system at once, but would instead withhold pieces. Their overall relationship, he continued, was influenced by the fact
that Iran was a major competitor for Russia's oil and gas industry.
6. (S/NF) Tantawi agreed with his assessment, noting that the "real problem" was China and its good relationship with
Iran. DNI Blair emphasized the importance of convincing the Chinese to support sanctions against Iran, noting that an
Iranian nuclear weapons program could potentially set off a nuclear arms race that would destabilize the entire Middle
East and jeopardize Chinese supplies of oil and gas. Tantawi said that Egypt had good relations with China, which mostly
focused on economic issues. Although Egypt had "some" military relations with China, they did not discuss terrorism or
security issues within the Gulf.
7. (S/NF) DNI Blair briefed Tantawi on U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that the biggest challenge was
to develop the Afghan military and police. He asked for Egyptian support in convincing the Pakistanis of the benefits of
a long-term relationship with the U.S. Tantawi noted that Egypt encountered the same suspicions and said that the
Pakistanis "don't trust Egyptians either." While the Pakistanis were "difficult," Tantawi said that Egypt was still
trying to "work with them." (Note: Tantawi previously served as the Egyptian Defense Attach to Pakistan and was also
responsible for Afghanistan. End Note). Tantawi added that any country where the military became engaged in "internal
affairs" was "doomed to have lots of problems." He stressed that countries must clearly stipulate the military's duties
in their constitution and militaries should not deviate from those defined responsibilities.
-------------------------------------------- Peace Keeping, Africa, and Counter Smuggling
--------------------------------------------
8. (S/NF) Tantawi encouraged more international support for Somalia, including more assistance for the TFG. He noted
that Egypt participated alongside the U.S. during the 1992 UN mission in Somalia, but no longer had any troops there.
Tantawi said that by the end of 2009, Egypt would have 5100 peace keepers deployed abroad, which would make Egypt the
fifth largest contributing country in the world. The majority of Egypt's peace keepers were in Sudan, but Tantawi said
that Egypt was preparing to send a large contingent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo next year.
9. (S/NF) Tantawi said that Egypt continued to cooperate with the U.S. on combating arms smuggling to Gaza, including on
a tunnel activity detection system along the Egypt-Gaza border. He expressed concern of a repeat of the 2008 Gaza border
breach, which sent hundreds of thousands of Gazans streaming into the northern Sinai city of el-Arish. Tantawi called on
the U.S. to convince Israel to "not let the situation get to this point again." He added that most smuggling activity
was controlled by criminal networks. Scobey