Cablegate: Blue Lantern: Verifying Bona Fides for Broker

VZCZCXYZ0136
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #2401 3641521
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301521Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4605
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS CAIRO 002401

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETTC MASS EG
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN: VERIFYING BONA FIDES FOR BROKER
SHERIF EL SAID - CASE NO.2001

REF: STATE 99501

1. (SBU) In response to reftel request, Poloff met with
registered broker Sherif El Said, President of TETCO. His
brother Hassouna El Said (Vice President) and son Mahmoud El
Said (Program Manager) also attended the meeting. He
confirmed that he was authorized by the Egyptian Ministry of
Defense to conduct brokering activities in Egypt. TETCO
began operations in 1978 and has 15 employees. The company
provides consulting and technical support for the Ministry of
Defense, including providing maintenance for radio systems
and communications switches for the Navy Signal and Army
Signal Departments. Apart from providing on-site maintenance
for the equipment, El Said said the company does not
physically handle any of the equipment. The American
manufacturer DRS ships the equipment directly to the Egyptian
military. If any parts need off-site repairs or replacement,
the Egyptian military ships the equipment directly to the
manufacturer. El Said confirmed that he was familiar with
restrictions on USML items, including the unauthorized
re-transfer and re-export of items.

2. (SBU) El Said said the Egyptian military was his only
client for sensitive equipment like switches. The firm also
does some commercial telecommunications work for private
companies, but only involving items that are not on the
United States Munitions List.
Scobey

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