Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12931 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AR AF AGR AFIN AMGT ABLD AU AEMR AJ AID AMCHAMS AMED AS APER AE AORC AECL ABUD AM AG AL AUC APEC AY APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ANET AFFAIRS AND ADPM ASEAN ADM AGAO AINF ATRN ALOW ACOA AROC AA AADP ARF APCS ADANA ADCO AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS
BA BR BL BO BRUSSELS BT BM BU BY BG BEXP BK BH BD BP BTIO BB BE BILAT BC BX BIDEN BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CY CA CD CVIS CACS CH CS CO CONS CDG CE CMGT CPAS CU CIC CASC CG CI CHR CAPC CJAN CBW CLINTON CW CWC CTR CIDA CODEL CROS CM CV CF COM COPUOS CT CARSON CBSA CN CHIEF CR CONDOLEEZZA CDC CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL
DR DJ DA DHS DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ETTC EC EAIR EWWT EAGR EUN ECON EINV ETRD EMIN ENRG EFIN EAID EG ES ELAB EUR EN EPET EIND ELTN EU ECUN EI EZ EFIS ENIV ER ET EXIM ECIN ECPS EINT ELN ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EK EUREM EFINECONCS EFTA ENERG ELECTIONS EAIDS ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS
FI FR FMLN FISO FAS FJ FAC FTAA FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FINANCE FBI FDA FARC FAO FINR FTA FOR FOI FO
GG GR GT GM GAERC GH GY GOV GA GERARD GTIP GV GOI GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GCC GE GZ GAZA
HA HK HU HILLARY HSTC HO HR HYMPSK HUMAN HI HURI HEBRON HUMOR
IR IZ IC IAEA IS ICRC ICAO IN IO IT IV IAHRC IWC ICJ ITRA IMO IRC IRAQI ILO ISRAELI ITU IMF IBRD IQ ILC ID IEFIN ICTY ITALY IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR
JP JA JO JM JOHNNIE JOHN JAMES JUS JOSEPH
KOMC KRVC KSCA KPKO KNNP KCOR KTFN KDEM KJUS KCRM KGHG KISL KIRF KFRD KWMN KNEI KN KS KE KPAO KVPR KHLS KV KOLY KGIT KFLU KFLO KSAF KGIC KU KTIP KMDR KIPR KPAL KNSD KTIA KSEP KAWC KG KWBG KBIO KIDE KPLS KTDB KMPI KBTR KDRG KZ KUNR KHDP KSAC KACT KRAD KSUM KIRC KCFE KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KBCT KVIR KHSA KMCA KCRS KVRP KTER KSPR KSTC KSTH KPOA KFIN KTEX KCMR KMOC KCIP KAWK KTBT KPRV KO KX KMFO KENV KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG
LE LY LG LH LA LOG LU LABOR LI LTTE LAB LO LT
MOPS MO MASS MNUC MCAP MARR MU MTCRE MC MX MIL MG MR MAS MT MI MPOS MD ML MRCRE MTRE MY MASC MK MTCR MAPP MZ MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPS
NZ NATO NA NU NL NI NO NASA NP NEW NE NSG NPT NPG NS NR NG NSF NGO NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OTRA OVIP OPRC OAS OSCE OIIP OREP OEXC OPDC OPIC OFDP ODIP OHUM OSCI OVP OPCW OECD OPAD ODC OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PREL PTER PK PGOV PINR PO PINS PREF PARM PBTS PHUM PA PE POL PM PAHO PL PHSA PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PALESTINIAN PAS PREO PAO PAK PDOV POV PCI PGOF PG PRAM PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNAT POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS
QA
RS RU RO RM RP RW RFE RCMP REGION RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SA SENV SR SG SNAR SU SOCI SP SL SY SMIG SW SO SCUL SZ SI SIPRS SAARC SYR SYRIA SWE SARS SNARIZ SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN
TPHY TU TSPA TBIO TSPL TRGY TW TZ TC TX TT TIP TS TNGD TF TL TV TN TI TH TP TD TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UP UNSC UNO UN UY UNGA USEU UZ US UNESCO UG USTR UNHRC UNCND USUN UV UNMIK USNC UNHCR UNAUS UNCHR USOAS UNEP USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VE VT VTPREL VZ VTIZ VN VM VTEG VAT VC VI
WTRO WBG WHTI WHO WS WTO WIPO WI WMD WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XL XK XG XV XR XT XB XF XM XA XW XX XY XS XE XZ XU XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZEALAND ZU ZP ZR ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06BEIRUT2652, LEBANON: WHEAT SHIPMENT NEEDED TO KEEP BREAD ON

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BEIRUT2652.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06BEIRUT2652 | 2006-08-16 06:19 | 2011-05-19 23:30 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Beirut

`

    VZCZCXRO1423
    OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ
    DE RUEHLB #2652/01 2280619
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    O 160619Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5091
    INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0095

` `

    "UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002652

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID
    CAIRO FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: EAID ECON IS LE PREL SY
    SUBJECT: LEBANON:  WHEAT SHIPMENT NEEDED TO KEEP BREAD ON
    THE TABLE

    ¶1.  This message contains an action message for the
    Department -- please see para 6.

    ¶2.  Embassy meetings with GOL and agrifood industry leaders
    have confirmed that current stocks of wheat in Lebanon are at
    a critically low level.  President of Dora Flour Mills and
    Chair of the Agrifood Traders Syndicate Arslan Sinno told
    emboffs that perhaps only a 10-15 day reserve supply of wheat
    remains in Lebanon.  Sinno added that commercial mills have
    been taking steps to stretch remaining grain stocks by
    rationing their output, closing for portions of the day, and
    only partially filling orders from industrial bakers.  Sinno
    explained that the milling/flour industry in Lebanon is very
    much dependent on maintaining stocks of wheat to be milled on
    demand.  Lebanon's climate and the high overhead cost of
    maintaining storage facilities preclude most consumers from
    storing large quantities of flour.

    ¶3.  Sinno and other mill owners confirm that they currently
    have no means of getting stocks of wheat delivered to
    Lebanon.  Normally, Lebanese millers import wheat from Russia
    using small capacity ships, holding less than 10,000 tons.
    The millers prefer Russian wheat as it trades at
    approximately 165 USD per ton CNF (including freight costs),
    while U.S. wheat costs over $240 per ton including freight.
    Orders placed prior to July 12, 2006 that were inbound to
    Lebanon have had to be canceled or resold on the market,
    often at a loss to the miller in Lebanon.  Ship owners
    operating grain transports have refused to cross the sea
    blockade to port in Lebanon.  Several mill owners report
    frustrating and unusual demands from their shippers,
    including one ship owner requesting a letter signed by
    President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert of Israel
    guaranteeing the ship's safety.  Sinno stressed the urgency
    of getting a shipment of grain en route to Lebanon, as
    turn-around times for U.S.-originating grain shipments
    average 30 days.

    ¶4.  The Agrifood Syndicate has approached the GOL and the US
    Embassy with a proposal asking for help to alleviate the
    wheat shortage.  In a letter to Lebanese PM Siniora and
    Minister of the Economy Sami Haddad, the syndicate proposes
    that the GOL request from the USG a humanitarian shipment of
    wheat. The transit and delivery of the shipment would be
    guaranteed by the USG, who could make the proper assurances
    to the IDF to allow the shipment to cross the blockade.  The
    30,000-ton shipment (approximately 6 million USD in value),
    enough for approximately 1 month of normal flour consumption
    in Lebanon, would then be sold to Lebanese commercial
    millers.  If the wheat were sold at a ""replacement rate""
    (i.e. the previously negotiated rate for Russian wheat),
    bread and flour prices would remain more or less constant in
    Lebanon.  The Syndicate has also approached the Embassy of
    France with a similar proposal, but Sinno and others prefer
    U.S. wheat as ""more suitable"" for Lebanese flour products.
    Proceeds from the sale could then be used by the GOL for
    reconstruction or humanitarian concerns.

    ¶5.  Previously, Lebanon has benefited from USAID/USDA
    humanitarian wheat programs, such as ""Food for Education.""
    In the most recent wheat shipment, the International Orthodox
    Christian Charities (IOCC) NGO received 50,000 tons of wheat,
    which was then sold at auction to local Lebanese mills.  The
    IOCC used the proceeds to support its local education
    initiatives.  There is no current PL-480 program for Lebanon,
    as its per-capita income is too high.  Under current USDA and
    USAID rules, request for a similar grain shipment would need
    to originate from a U.S.-based NGO and be coupled with
    Embassy Beirut's endorsement.

    ¶6.  ACTION REQUEST:  Based on suggestions from the agrifood
    sector and the GOL on grain shipments, post recommends that
    the Department engage with USDA and USAID to:

    --Investigate the possibility of donating 25,000 to 30,000
    tons of ""#2 U.S. Hard Red Winter Wheat"" to the GOL for
    re-sale and distribution as described above.

    --Arrange for shipment of the wheat by U.S.-flag transport
    vessels

    --Liaise with the Government of Israel to clear the shipment
    through the sea blockade

    ¶7.  Comment:  Maintaining bread and flour proces at current

    BEIRUT 00002652  002 OF 002

    levels and insuring the supply of wheat in the short-run will
    alleviate domestic economic pressure on the Siniora
    government.  The visibility of USG efforts to stave off a
    potentially crippling crisis of a bread and flour shortage
    would go far to demonstrate USG support for the GOL and the
    Lebanese people.  While there are several NGOs who could
    handle such an operation under normal circumstances (Mercy
    Corps, IOCC, World Vision, YMCA), most of their operations
    have turned to meeting the immediate humanitarian needs of
    Lebanon's inernally displaced persons (IDPs).  Allowing the
    GOL to be the receiver of such a shipment would secure
    immediate and efficient distribution of the grain upon
    arrival and bolster the private sector's confidence in the
    GOL.

    ¶8.  Comment continued:  Given the time needed to get a ship
    of wheat loaded and to Lebanon, we hope that this request can
    be approved and acted upon as promptly as possible.  As in
    fuel, wheat shortages are likely to benefit Syrian
    blackmarketeers while hurting the average Lebanese consumer
    -- and damaging the credibility of the Siniora government.
    We should not underestimate the impact, political and
    otherwise, bread shortages and/or hikes in bread prices would
    have, especially during this critical period.  End Comment.
    FELTMAN
    "

`