Cablegate: Blue Lantern Post-Shipment End-Use Check On

VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #8696 3651311
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311311Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0711
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0065
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0541

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008696

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SLUG FOR: PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IS CO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON
LICENSE 051006240

REF: A. STATE 98011
B. STATE 124624
C. TEL AVIV 02854

1. In response to reftels A and B Econoff initiated efforts
with MilGroup Army Officer to confirm the purchase by the
Colombian Army (COLAR) of 28 power supply units from Israel.
After receipt of reftel C, Econoff understood that the items
referenced in reftel A had been incorporated into nine
computer display units (CDUs), and that these CDUs were then
incorporated into nine 155 millimeter howitzers by General
Dynamics/Santa Barbara of Spain (GD).

2. On November 8, Econoff and MilGroup Army Officer met with
Lt. Albino of the Administrative Section of the Armaments
Division of the COLAR to determine if the COLAR had purchased
nine 155 millimeter howitzers from GD. Lt. Albino confirmed
that the COLAR had purchased nine 155 millimeter howitzers
(delivered in September 2007) that were in use by the COLAR.
However, Lt. Albino was unable to confirm who had sold the
weapons to the COLAR.

3. On November 27 and December 21 Col. Jairo Alfonso Aponte
Preito, head of COLAR logistics, provided MilGroup Army
Officer with additional information, including the contract
for the nine 155 millimeter howitzers. The contract was
between the COLAR, MLM International Corporation of the USA
(MLM) and Brackley Consulting and Finance Services of
Colombia (Brackley).

4. On December 27 Econoff contacted Brackley to determine if
the nine 155 millimeter howitzers were originally from GD.
Brackley legal representative Alberto Esguerra Gouffray
stated that Brackley had been acting as a sales
representative for MLM in the sale of the nine 155 millimeter
howitzers. Gouffray further stated that while he understood
that nine 155 millimeter howitzers were manufactured by GD,
Brackley did not have a direct contract with GD.

5. On December 28 Econoff contacted MLM to verify whether
the nine 155 millimeter howitzers the COLAR purchased were
from GD. MLM Sales Director Robert G. Suber confirmed that
the nine 155 millimeter howitzers sold to the COLAR were from
GD.
Nichols

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