CAREFUL USG-GOI COORDINATION ESSENTIAL ON ITALIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003942

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE, DKAGAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2012
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: CAREFUL USG-GOI COORDINATION ESSENTIAL ON ITALIAN
TROOP CONTRIBUTION


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REF: A. A) ROME 3795

B. B) STATE 134761

CLASSIFIED BY: ACTING DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE SEE PARA 3.


2. (C) WE UNDERSTAND FROM E-MAIL TRAFFIC THAT THE USG
PREFERS TO ACCEPT ITALY'S OFFER OF TROOPS FOR OPERATION
ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) RATHER THAN THE GOI'S OFFER TO
BACKFILL IN THE BALKANS (REF A). IT WILL TAKE CAREFUL
HANDLING BY PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI AND DEFENSE MINISTER
MARTINO TO SHEPHERD THIS THROUGH PARLIAMENTARY CONSULTATIONS.
WITH BERLUSCONI AND MANY SENIOR DECISION-MAKERS OUT OF ROME
ON HOLIDAY, A GOI "GAME-PLAN" MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO
ORCHESTRATE. THE NEED TO PLAN -- AND IMPLEMENT -- A
POLITICAL STRATEGY MAY EXPLAIN WHY NO SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED THROUGH THE MOD CHAIN OF COMMAND REGARDING
BERLUSCONI'S CONDITIONAL DECISION TO CONTRIBUTE TROOPS. THE
OPPOSITION, PRESS AND PUBLIC COULD EASILY MISINTERPRET
USG-GOI PRELIMINARY STEPS TO COORDINATE ITALIAN PARTICIPATION
AS AN ATTEMPT BY THE GOI TO CIRCUMVENT PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
-- AND ITALY'S OPPOSITION, WHICH LACKS MANY ISSUES IT CAN USE
AGAINST THE POPULAR PRIME MINISTER, WOULD BE ONLY TOO EAGER
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY. THIS COULD CREATE
SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL FALL-OUT FOR BERLUSCONI, EVEN
ULTIMATELY DERAILING THE OFFER TO CONTRIBUTE. DUE TO THE
EXTREMELY SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE POLITICALLY WITHIN
ITALY, WE URGE CAREFUL, COMPREHENSIVE AND QUIET USG-GOI
COORDINATION, AND EMPHASIZE THAT THE GOI OFFER REMAINS
SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY PARLIAMENT WHEN IT RECONVENES IN
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MID-SEPTEMBER. IN ADDITION, WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME AT THIS
POINT THAT THE GREEN LIGHT WE RECEIVED FROM BERLUSCONI
EXTENDS BEYOND THE REQUEST FOR GROUND TROOPS OR SPECIAL OPS
FORCES SPECIFIED IN REF B. IN PARTICULAR, ALL USG AGENCIES
SHOULD AVOID PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ITALIAN
PARTICIPATION IN ORDER TO AVOID COMPLICATING THE GOI'S
MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC REACTION. WE SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES TO
ANNOUNCE ITALY'S COOPERATION.


3. (C) EMBASSY IS INFORMED THAT A REQUEST FOR FORCES IS BEING
PREPARED IN COORDINATION WITH THE ITALIAN LNO CELL AT CENTCOM
THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE FORCES REQUESTED IN REF B, WHICH
BERLUSCONI HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE, BUT ALSO ENGINEERS AND
DEMINERS. IN REF A, GOI OFFICIALS ASKED FOR A GENERAL
STATEMENT OF WHICH FORCES, AND FOR WHAT MISSION, THE USG IS
SEEKING FROM ITALY. WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FOR
DELIVERY TO OFFICIALS AT MOD, MFA AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S
OFFICE:

-- OUR REQUEST: THE USG IS REQUESTING THAT ITALY CONTRIBUTE A
LIGHT INFANTRY MANEUVER BATTALION, EQUIPPED WITH LIGHT
RECONNAISSANCE/SECURITY VEHICLES, TO REPLACE A COALITION
BATTALION DUE TO ROTATE OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

-- THE MISSION: THE PROPOSED MISSION FOR THE ITALIAN
BATTALION IS SENSITIVE SITE EXPLORATION, TIME-SENSITIVE
TARGET POST-STRIKE EXPLOITATION, SUPPORT TO HUMANITARIAN
OPERATIONS, AIRFIELD SECURITY, AREA RECONNAISSANCE AND COMBAT
OPERATIONS TO DESTROY AL-QAIDA/TALIBAN FORCES. SPECIFIC
BASING LOCATION FOR ITALIAN FORCES IS TO BE DETERMINED.

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-- TIMING: THE PROPOSED MISSION DURATION IS FROM JANUARY
THROUGH JULY 2003, WITH EXTENSION OR BACKFILL IF POSSIBLE
BEYOND JULY 2003.

ACTION REQUEST. PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THIS BRIEF STATEMENT IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE MORE DETAILED RFF BEING PREPARED.
ADDITIONALLY, IF THE USG WANTS TO SPECIFY ALPINI FORCES OR
REQUEST ENGINEERS, MINE CLEARING UNITS, SPECIAL OPERATIONS
UNITS AND/OR OTHER MILITARY ASSETS, PLEASE INCLUDE IN A
PRIORITIZED LIST COORDINATED WITH DEFENSE AND STATE. IF THE
NUMBER OF FORCES NEEDED IS AVAILABLE, PLEASE PROVIDE.
EMBASSY ROME CAN THEN APPROACH GOI POLITICAL AND MILITARY
DECISION-MAKERS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE REQUEST FOR ASSETS IN
SUPPORT OF OEF.


4. (C) WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE AND THE
DEFENSE MINISTER'S OFFICE TO CONVEY THE PRIME MINISTER'S
DECISION TO CONTRIBUTE FORCES (SUBJECT TO PARLIAMENTARY
REVIEW) TO THE UNIFORMED STAFF AND THE CENTCOM LNO CELL.
SEMBLER

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2002ROME03942 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL