La gran filtraci¨®n
Cable sobre la reorganizaci¨®n de ETA durante la tregua
Un jefe antiterrorista de Francia informa a la Embajada de EE UU en Par¨ªs de un incremento de la actividad etarra en Francia, entre otros temas
| ID: | 87411 |
| Date: | 2006-11-29 11:08:00 |
| Origin: | 06PARIS7579 |
| Source: | Embassy Paris |
| Classification: | SECRET |
| Dunno: | 06PARISPOINTSNOV22 |
| Destination: | VZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHFR #7579/01 3331108 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 291108Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3427 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1033 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 3217 RUEAWJA/DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE |
S E C R E T PARIS 007579 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/CT MARC NORMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2016 TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, FR SUBJECT: GOF C/T COORDINATOR,S OVERVIEW OF TERRORISM THREAT REF: A. PARIS POINTS NOV 22 B. PARIS 7425 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for Reaso ns 1.4 (b) and (d) SUBJECT: GOF C/T COORDINATOR,S OVERVIEW OF TERRORISM THREAT 1. (S) Summary: Christophe Chaboud, the Ministry of Interior's counter-terrorism coordinating chief, told us on November 20 that GOF authorities remain extremely concerned about the threat of terrorism on French soil and are actively taking measures to combat current and future threats. Radical Islamists are still the principal threat to French interests at home and abroad. Chaboud reported that the 2003-2004 uptick in fighters from France to Iraq appears to have lost momentum, and that there are no signs that the GSPC is actively targeting France. The C/T chief also reviewed improvements to airport security, as well as ETA and PKK activities. End Summary. RADICAL ISLAMIC THREAT 2. (S) On November 20, poloff met for an introductory call with Christophe Chaboud, the head of France's C/T coordination unit, or UCLAT. (Note: UCLAT is the Ministry of Interior's nexus for all counter-terrorism operations, analysis, and exchanges.) Chaboud set the tone for the discussion by quickly establishing that radical Islamists remained the principal threat to France and French interests around the world, particularly in the Middle East. While intelligence analysis suggested there were no active known networks operating in France, Chaboud said the GOF was taking aggressive preventative measures to ensure that authorities are not caught off guard. GSPC,s announcement of its joining with al-Qaeda and highlighting France as its number one enemy, was extremely worrisome, however, French intelligence officials had not noted any signs of increasing activity. FRENCH JIHADISTS ---------------- 3. (S) There were now "very few" known cases of French nationals going to Iraq, according to Chaboud. In 2003-2005, the GOF intelligence community was deeply concerned about the radicalization of young French Muslims to the point that some joined the jihad in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said. The trend appears to have faded since then. Aside from the recent October 20 arrests of three French nationals in Damascus (see ref A), Chaboud said, French officials were not aware of any other recent cases. He praised Syrian officials for their efficiency in arresting the young French men, who were apparently taken into custody after only a few days in Syria, and credited intense U.S. pressure as motivation for the Syrians' haste. Chaboud added that, for the moment, there was no evidence that any of the three men had connections to previously known networks in France; more likely, they had found their path to Iraq through very informal channels. Asked about the reason for the downturn in numbers going to Iraq, Chaboud said he believed that harsh punishment from French authorities, the deaths of their "brothers" in Iraq, and a local lack of support among most French Muslims, must certainly have had an effect. (Note: Two of the three French nationals were reportedly expelled to France on November 22, and despite a lack of notification by Syrian authorities, were arrested after landing in France.) PREVENTION: IMAM EXPULSIONS --------------------------- 4. (S) Chaboud proudly touted the expulsion of 54 imams from France since 2001. The imams were expelled from France for allegedly preaching radical Islamic ideas. (Note: In at least one highly publicized case, an expelled imam told local media that the Koran sanctioned the submission of women through force.) Chaboud noted that while the majority of expelled imams were Algerian, a handful came from Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and "one or two Gulf countries." He added that France was far ahead of other EU states, in particular the UK, in taking necessary action against foreign nationals who advocated "radical ideologies." Another 12 imams are reportedly awaiting deportation. PREVENTION: AIRPORT SECURITY ---------------------------- 5. (S) When asked about the current, very public, controversy (see ref B) surrounding the suspension of security clearances of 72 Muslim workers at Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport, Chaboud confirmed this had occurred chiefly on UCLAT's recommendation. Since the 2005 London bombings, he said, there clearly has been a need to focus on security in sensitive locations. Given CDG's stature in the world, and its past as an origination point for the December 2001 "shoe bomber," Chaboud stressed that dramatic steps had to be taken to avoid future attacks. "I asked myself, what I would do if I was a terrorist; how I would get past airport security," Chaboud said. The answer was simple, he replied -- to clearly identify and exploit airport employees who might be sympathetic to the "cause." 6. (S) After more than a year of investigation, UCLAT had concluded that at least 72 workers were vulnerable to exploitation because of their deep, and at least somewhat radical, religious convictions, Chaboud stated. He added that while they were not themselves terrorists, they appeared to be extreme enough in their comportment outside of work to lead authorities to conclude that they might aid or abet terrorists. Chaboud readily admitted that GOF authorities were creating new territory and that the judiciary had its own role to play, but he onetheless adamantly defended the recommendations that led to the revocation of security clearances. (Note: In the cases of 11 of the 72 employees who have filed legal grievances, the local Prefet voluntarily gave back security clearances to two individuals. A separate judgement has demanded that two others also be reinstated). ETA STEPS UP ACTIVITY IN FRANCE ------------------------------- 7. (S) ETA, Chaboud said, appears to have become more active in France over the past several months. He repeated the standard French policy line that ETA is a Spanish domestic issue and not a political question for France. That said, he noted that there was intense operational dialogue between France and Spain about cross-border activity. Chaboud said he was convinced that ETA is using the time for negotiating a political truce to replenish its stockpile of weapons, vehicles, and false travel documents. "I have warned the Spanish," Chaboud stressed, and said he would continue to advise them about developments in the French Basque country. (Note: Recent press reports speculate that in addition to the rise in stolen property, ETA wishes to directly involve Paris in the negotiations, something the French refuse outright.) PKK: "THEY KNOW NOT TO GO TOO FAR" ---------------------------------- 8. (S) Chaboud said that PKK members in France knew the GOF was prepared to act if they "go too far." France certainly did not want to provoke the PKK, which has never attacked France or French interests, but had made clear that certain activities would not be allowed on French soil. He added that the GOF had taken some steps in the past year to break-up money laundering operations by PKK members. It was a message he insisted the PKK understands. "France is not an important country for the PKK; Germany is. We do not have the kind of PKK members they have there; we have the intellectuals; it is our tradition," Chaboud said. COMMENT ------- 9. (S) Chaboud expressed confidence that France was taking appropriate measures in the fight against terrorism, adding that legislation passed in 2006 had gone a long way to codify current practices and pave the way for increased electronic surveillance. He noted that cooperation with the U.S. and the G-6 was excellent, but indicated there was still a great deal of work to be done with intelligence officials in the Maghreb. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON |
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