Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12945 / 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 2011/05/25

### 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 AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AID AFIN AS AM AFFAIRS AND APER APEC ADM ATRN ALOW ACOA AA AG ADPM ABUD AMED ABLD AGAO AE AINF AL ASEAN AADP AROC ARF APCS ADANA ADCO AY 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 ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BH BM BK BL BO BTIO BC BX BP BE BILAT BIDEN BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CONS CD CV CG CF CE CJAN CHIEF CBSA CW CM COM CT CN CONDOLEEZZA CDC CY COPUOS CTR CARSON CR CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CFED CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CIC CITT CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC
DHS DAO DCM DR DJ DA DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DE DK DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EUN EFIN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS EIND ELTN EZ EI ER ET ES EINT ECONOMY EXIM ERNG ENIV ENERG EK ELECTIONS EFTA EAIDS EUREM EFINECONCS ECA EPA ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ELN EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FBI FINR FINANCE FJ FTAA FREEDOM FARC FTA FAO FDA FM FAC FOREIGN FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO FAS
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GV GLOBAL GOV GTMO GANGS GOI GH GL GF GCC GAERC GE GZ GAZA GY
HR HO HA HYMPSK HUMAN HK HU HILLARY HI HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD ISRAELI IRAQI ITALY ICAO ID ICRC IEFIN ICTY ITRA ICJ IO ILC IWC IQ IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOHN JAMES JOHNNIE JUS JOSEPH
KNNP KOMC KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KMDR KWBG KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KICC KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KU KBIO KX KIRC KSAF KSTC KCRCM KR KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KIRF KMPI KHDP KACT KOCI KPOA KHLS KAWK KTBT KPRV KO KMFO KCOM KAID KENV KNUP KCFE KBCT KHSA KBTS KVIR KVRP KIDE KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KPRP KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KNAR KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KFSC KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LH LG LI LTTE LAB LO LT LA LU LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE ML MR MRCRE MTRE MO MASC MK MY MTCR MD MIL MU MAPP MZ MP MG MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MAS MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NSF NSSP NA NATIONAL NDP NGO NP NR NIPP NE NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NC NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NATOPREL NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPAD OPRC ODC OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OIIP OPCW OEXC ODIP OFDP OHUM OFFICIALS OIE OSCI OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PAS POL PBTS PL PAK POV PCI PGOF PA PALESTINIAN POLITICAL POLITICS PROP PAIGH PJUS PMIL PREO PAO PDOV PSI PG PRAM PO PARMS PROG PTERE POLICY PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA 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 PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RICE ROBERT RO ROOD RM REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SG SW SR SYRIA SEN SF SCRS SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SNARIZ SL SAARC SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TP TW TC TSPL TNGD TF TN TS TT TL TV TD TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TZ TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UNSC UK UNGA UN US USTR UZ USEU UV UG UP UNAUS UNMIK UNHRC UY UNESCO UNHCR USUN UNCHR UNEP USOAS USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTIZ VTEG VTPREL VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WI WHO WMD WS WBG WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XY XB XE XZ XV XU XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZU ZP ZR ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZB ZJ ZEALAND 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 10CAIRO177, Sinai Update: Counter Smuggling and Floods

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. #10CAIRO177.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
10CAIRO177 | 2010-02-09 13:46 | 2011-02-16 21:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Cairo

`

    VZCZCXYZ0001
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHEG #0177/01 0401346
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    O R 091346Z FEB 10
    FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0195
    INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

` `

    S E C R E T CAIRO 000177

    SIPDIS
    NOFORN

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/09
    TAGS: PREL PARM MASS IS KPAL EG
    SUBJECT: Sinai Update: Counter Smuggling and Floods

    REF: SECDEF 122723; CAIRO IIR 6 899 0149 10; 2009 CAIRO 2394
    2009 CAIRO 491

    CLASSIFIED BY: Margaret Scobey, Ambassador, DOS, EXO; REASON: 1.4(B),
    (D)

    ¶1.  Key Points:

    -- (S/NF) The GOE claims to have increased its efforts against
    HAMAS-related smuggling activity, and reports recent success in
    interdicting and dismantling goods and financial smuggling
    networks.

    -- (C) Recent heavy rains in northern Sinai caused an estimated $11
    million worth of damage.  Local residents have complained about the
    GOE's slow response and say the Muslim Brotherhood and other
    Islamic organizations have provided the most effective relief
    services.  Rains also temporarily halted construction of a
    subterranean steel wall and reportedly caused damage to the vast
    network of smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border.

    -- (S/NF) Security concerns have temporarily suspended installation
    of the FMF-funded border tunnel activity detection system (BTADS),
    which will delay the scheduled April 2010 completion date.  MOD has
    agreed in principle to accept follow-on support for the BTADS
    project.

    -- (SBU) USAID is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of
    International Cooperation (MIC) to begin implementing $50 million
    in FY2009 Supplemental funding aimed at creating economic
    alternatives to smuggling in the Sinai peninsula.

    -----------------

    Focusing on HAMAS

    -----------------

    ¶2.  (S/NF) During a recent meeting with Secretary of Defense Gates,
    the Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (EGIS)
    Omar Soliman said that Egypt was increasing efforts to combat
    HAMAS-related smuggling activity, including bolstering security
    along the Sudanese border (ref A). He also reported increased
    effectiveness in tackling smuggling networks in Sudan, Somalia, and
    Yemen.  Egyptian officials have separately reported recent success
    at interdicting and dismantling HAMAS-related goods and money
    smuggling networks along the Egypt-Gaza border.

    ---------------------------------

    Sinai Flood Damage Localized.....

    ---------------------------------

    ¶3.  (C) Multiple contacts in northern Sinai told us that damage
    from the floods is severe, but localized along and in the Wadi El
    Arish riverbed.  Osama Kassas, Head of the North Sinai
    Businessmen's Association, which is helping with the rebuilding
    process, stated that seven people died as a result of the floods
    and damages are estimated to be around 60 million Egyptian pounds
    (USD 11 million).  He said the flood destroyed the open market, a
    bus station and the Olympic village, which housed a branch of the
    Ministry of Youth, because the GOE built them in the riverbed.  In
    addition, villages in central Sinai and residential areas of El
    Arish city along the riverbed were severely damaged including the
    two roads that crossed the riverbed connecting western and eastern
    El Arish city. Our contacts in Sinai said 27 houses and 60
    businesses were completely destroyed, and 90 houses were severely
    damaged by water and mud.  Kassas said approximately 1,200 people

    were directly affected by the flood.

    --------------------------------------------- ---

    But Residents Frustrated with Assistance Efforts

    --------------------------------------------- ---

    ¶4.  (C) Kassas told us that Sinai residents were frustrated that
    the Egyptian Government had taken two days to respond to the
    flooding and were hostile toward PM Nazif during his visit to
    inspect the damage.  Kassas said the GoE repaired the two roads and
    is beginning to provide assistance such as blankets, tents and
    food.  However, its efforts are "random and disorganized" with
    assistance going to those with connections and not those who most
    need it.  He stated that most NGOs and private businesses in Sinai
    either do not have the capacity to provide assistance or are
    focused only on publicity.  Kassas said the most effective relief
    efforts are those connected with the Muslim Brotherhood and other
    Islamic organizations. (Comment: The Muslim Brotherhood does not
    have a strong organizational presence in northern Sinai. If they
    are providing relief services, they would have likely deployed
    people from outside the Sinai peninsula.  End Comment).

    ¶5.  (SBU) On January 31, First Lady Suzanne Mubarak traveled to
    North Sinai to see the damage caused by the floods.  She met with
    the North Sinai Governor Mowafi, various ministers and local
    leaders.  She said that the GoE is working to resolve the crisis
    caused by the floods and begin a "new phase for development" for
    the region. Security forces required those people living in tents
    due to flood damage to remove the tents and evacuate the area
    during the visit.   An 11-truck aid convoy from the Ministry of
    Military Production arrived in El Arish with refrigerators, water
    heaters, gas cylinders, televisions and domestic electric
    appliances for flood victims.

    ----------------------

    Flooding and Smuggling

    ----------------------

    ¶6.  (S/NF) The January 14 - 19 flooding also temporarily halted
    construction of a subterranean steel wall along the Egypt-Gaza
    border.  Construction re-started on January 29.  The Egyptian
    military also reported finding fewer tunnel openings since the
    rains (ref B), but noted increased activity along the Palestinian
    side of the border, which they attributed to repair work on
    rain-damaged tunnels (Comment: Even small amounts of rain can cause
    tunnels to collapse, so a significant amount of flooding would
    likely cause serious damage.  End Comment).

    -------------------

    USG-Funded Programs

    -------------------

    ¶7.  (S/NF) The FMF-funded BTADS project has been on-hold since
    January 2 due to security concerns (ref C).  We are currently
    awaiting MOD-approval to conduct a security assessment of the Rafah
    area before redeploying the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE).  On
    January 31, MOD denied OMC's most recent request citing undisclosed
    "security concerns."  During a January 11 meeting with Field
    Marshal Tantawi, Ambassador and OMC Chief stressed the importance
    of working together to ensure security concerns are quickly and
    effectively addressed so installation can resume.  During the same
    meeting, Assistant Minister of Defense Major General Mohammed
    al-Assar claimed that the project was still on track for a February
    2010 completion.  (Comment:  Al-Assar is fully aware that delays

    will extend completion well beyond April 2010.  It is likely that
    he has not informed Tantawi of the delay originally caused by the
    Minister's own insistence on technical modifications for the
    original BTADS equipment.  End Comment).  On January 21, MOD did
    agree in principle to submit a request for follow-on support for
    the BTADS project, which will be critical once the ACE completes
    the installation and turns the system over entirely to the Egyptian
    military.

    ¶8.  (S/NF) EGIS is moving forward, albeit slower than originally
    anticipated, on a Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF)
    financed project to deploy 15 x-ray scanners to inspect vehicular
    traffic entering the Sinai for explosives and arms (ref D).
    Representatives from EGIS and the Ministry of Interior are
    currently in the United States for operator training.  EGIS
    anticipates that the necessary infrastructure preparations for the
    first site, the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel, will be completed by late
    March/early April.

    -----------------

    Sinai Development

    -----------------

    ¶9.  (SBU)  Ambassador and AID Director met with Minister of
    International Cooperation (MIC) Fayza Aboulnaga on February 3 to
    discuss the $50 million in FY2009 ESF Supplemental funding aimed at
    improving economic opportunities and employment in the North Sinai
    governorate.  Minister Aboulnaga continued to object to provisions
    related to project monitoring and audit plans, even though AID has
    repeatedly modified the draft assistance agreement in consideration
    of the special security circumstances in North Sinai and the GOE's
    desire to minimize the USG's profile in the governorate.  AID is
    making one last effort to meet MIC concerns, but will not
    compromise on basic, legal requirements to conduct audits and
    monitor USG-financed work. AID Director is also scheduled to meet
    with the new North Sinai governor to solicit his support for the
    program.
    SCOBEY

`