ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENDURING FREEDOM: U/S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005193

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2007
TAGS: MOPS PREL PREL PREL IT ITMOPS ITMOPS IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENDURING FREEDOM: U/S
FEITH'S MEETING WITH MINDEF MARTINO, SEPT. 30

REF: ROME 4807

CLASSIFIED BY: POLMINCOUNS THOMAS M. COUNTRYMAN, REASON 1.5 (B)
AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. ON SEPTEMBER 30, ITALIAN MINDEF MARTINO
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REVIEWED OEF, ISAF/AFGHANISTAN DEVELOPMENTS, IRAQ, DEFENSE
PROCUREMENT, AND THE ICC WITH USD/P FEITH. MARTINO
PINPOINTED MARCH 1 AS THE TARGET DATE FOR DEPLOYING THE
ALPINI TO AFGHANISTAN (COMMENT: PER REFTEL, THE PARLIAMENT ON
OCTOBER 3 APPROVED THE MISSION.) ITALY'S KFOR COMMAND ROLE
AND BUDGET CONSTRAINTS--WHICH MARTINO SAID WERE HAMPERING
DEFENSE PLANNING--WILL PREVENT THE GOI FROM TAKING ON ANY
ISAF OR ISAF-LIKE LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES AT THIS TIME.
THE THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ STRENGTHENS THE
UN, MARTINO SAID. HE SPECIFIED THAT A DECISION TO USE FORCE
WAS A SEPARATE MATTER, BUT THOUGHT THAT IF THE U.S. MOVES TO
ASSEMBLE A MILITARY COALITION, FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND EVEN
GERMANY WOULD PARTICIPATE. REGARDING ITALY'S DESIRE TO SIGN
A DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES WITH THE U.S., FEITH NOTED THAT
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH THIRD COUNTRIES WAS STILL AN ISSUE,
BUT SAID IT WAS SOLUBLE. THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IS STUDYING
HOW TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE ICC ON PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS. MARTINO CALLED AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT A GOOD,
IF IMPERFECT, STOPGAP TO MEET U.S. NEEDS. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) USD/P FEITH MET SEPTEMBER 30 WITH ITALIAN MINDEF
MARTINO AT THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN ROME. ALSO IN
ATTENDANCE WERE AMB. SEMBLER, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY PETER FLORY, MARTINO'S DIPLOMATIC COUNSELOR

SIPDIS
FRANCESCO TRUPIANO, AND POLMINCOUNS.

ALPINI TROOPS TO OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
--------------


3. (C) FEITH NOTED MARTINO'S STATEMENT TO SECDEF SEPT. 23
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PAGE 03 ROME 05193 01 OF 03 232006Z
THAT THE ALPINI BATTALION
THE GOI HAD PROMISED TO DEPLOY TO OEF WOULD ARRIVE IN MARCH,
AND STRESSED THAT AN
EARLIER ARRIVAL WOULD BE FAR MORE VALUABLE. MARTINO SAID
AGAIN THAT THE TARGET
DATE WAS MARCH 1, SAYING THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE
ALPINI AND
ASSOCIATED UNITS HAVE THE TIME FOR INTEGRATED TRAINING. HE
MENTIONED THAT
CONSTRAINTS ON THE DEFENSE BUDGET WERE ALSO A FACTOR.


4. (C) MARTINO DESCRIBED THE GOI'S APPROACH TO THE
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON OEF
AND AFGHANISTAN SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 3. THERE WOULD BE NO
CONTROVERSY IF IT
WERE A QUESTION OF INCREASING ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION TO ISAF.
HOWEVER, SOME
ELEMENTS OF THE LEFT IN ITALY HAVE CREATED A MYTH THAT
ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION
OF OEF IS INTENDED TO FREE UP US ELEMENTS TO PROSECUTE WAR IN
IRAQ. THE CLIMATE
HAS CHANGED SINCE THE PARLIAMENT VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN
NOVEMBER 2001 TO APPROVE
ITALIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO OEF. NOW THE LEFT HAS RESURRECTED
ITS SLOGAN OF BEING
"PRO-PEACE" AND ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY
MARTINO, OF BEING WAR-MONGERS.
FEITH NOTED THAT THE IMPLICATION OF OPPOSING COALITION
PARTICIPATION IN OEF IS TO
PROMOTE WHAT THE LEFT CLAIMS TO REJECT: US UNILATERALISM.
SMILING, MARTINO SAID HIS
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PAGE 04 ROME 05193 01 OF 03 232006Z
PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENT WOULD MAKE HIS FRIENDS ON THE LEFT
SQUIRM. A VOTE ON OEF
WILL NOT ONLY SPLIT THE TWO MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES - THE
DEMOCRATIC LEFT (DS) AND
THE DAISY - BUT WOULD ALSO CAUSE AN INTERNAL SPLIT IN THE DS.

ISAF
--------------


5. (C) MARTINO ASKED FOR LATEST US THINKING ON THE NEXT LEAD
NATION FOR ISAF: WOULD
IT BE THE GERMAN-DUTCH COMBINATION? FEITH SAID HE HAD
DISCUSSED THIS IN BERLIN EARLIER
IN THE MONTH, BUT AFTER A WEEK ON THE ROAD, WAS NOT AWARE OF
THE LATEST THINKING
IN WASHINGTON. A GERMAN-DUTCH OPERATION WOULD NEED SUPPORT,
AT LEAST INFORMALLY,
FROM NATO, WHICH RAISED SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS IN ITSELF.
WE WERE ALSO THINKING
ABOUT USING COALITION FORCES (FROM OEF) TO PERFORM ISAF-LIKE
FUNCTIONS IN CITIES
NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY ISAF. HE ASKED MARTINO IF ANY OTHER
NATION WAS READY TO

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8294

PAGE 01 ROME 05193 02 OF 03 232007Z
ACTION PM-00

INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /007W
-------------- FCFD38 232007Z /40
P 231456Z OCT 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6528
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
JOINT STAFF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005193

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2007
TAGS: MOPS PREL PREL PREL IT ITMOPS ITMOPS IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENDURING FREEDOM: U/S
FEITH'S MEETING WITH MINDEF MARTINO, SEPT. 30

STEP FORWARD AND TAKE THE LEAD. MARTINO NOTED THE IMMINENT
ITALIAN ASSUMPTION OF
KFOR COMMAND, AND REFERRED TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AS A REASON
ITALY COULD NOT VOLUNTEER.

AFGHANISTAN DEVELOPMENTS
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PAGE 02 ROME 05193 02 OF 03 232007Z
--------------


6. (C) FEITH DESCRIBED SOME OF HIS IMPRESSIONS FROM HIS
JUST-COMPLETED VISIT TO
AFGHANISTAN. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO SPEED THE TRAINING
OF THE AFGHAN ARMY
AND POLICE, SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THE GOA MORE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE COUNTRY AND
AVOID CREATING A CULTURE OF OVERDEPENDENCE ON OUTSIDE HELP.
MARTINO AGREED,
NOTING THAT OVER-RELIANCE ON THE WEST WAS STILL A MAJOR
PROBLEM IN THE BALKANS.
FEITH SAID WE HAVE TO BUILD UP THE GOA'S TOOLS, PARTICULARLY
THE POLICE AND A
MEANS FOR THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO BECOME THE CHIEF CONDUIT
FOR INTERNATIONAL AID.
WHEN HE MENTIONED HIS MEETING WITH MINDEF FAHIM KHAN, MARTINO
INTERJECTED THAT
FAHIM REMINDED HIM OF A REAL SICILIAN GODFATHER. FEITH SAID
THAT OUR TASK WITH
FAHIM IS TO CONVINCE HIM THAT POLITICAL MANEUVERING WILL GIVE
HIM MORE OF A PAYBACK
THAN THE BRUTE FORCE HE IS USED TO WIELDING.

IRAQ
--------------


7. (C) FEITH SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING A GREAT
DEAL OF THOUGHT TO
THE AFTERMATH OF SADDAM'S REMOVAL FROM POWER. THERE WILL BE
A NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL
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PAGE 03 ROME 05193 02 OF 03 232007Z
HELP IN ANY POST-CONFLICT STABILITY PHASE. MARTINO SAID IT
WAS IMPORTANT THAT
PUBLIC OPINION KNOW THAT THE US IS COMMITTED TO IRAQ'S
STABILITY POST-SADDAM,
BECAUSE WE ARE CURRENTLY LOSING THE PROPAGANDA BATTLE. HE
AGAIN COMPLAINED THAT
THE LEFT IS TRYING TO SIMPLIFY THE CHOICE BETWEEN "PEACE" AND
"WAR", WHEN IN FACT
IS WEIGHING THE RISK OF ACTION AGAINST THE RISK OF INACTION.
HE SAID THAT THE US
WAS RIGHT TO CONTINUE THE PRESSURE ON BAGHDAD; WITHOUT THE
THREAT OF FORCE, THE UN
WAS SEVERELY WEAKENED. THE ACTUAL USE OF FORCE, HE NOTED,
WAS A SEPARATE DECISION.
MARTINO SAID HE WAS LESS PESSIMISTIC THAN MOST ON THE
STRENGTH OF A COALITION THE US
COULD ASSEMBLE: IN THE END, HE BELIEVED THAT FRANCE, RUSSIA
AND EVEN GERMANY WOULD
NOT WANT TO BE LEFT OUT.

BILATERAL: DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
--------------


8. (C) MARTINO SAID HIS DIRECTOR OF ARMAMENTS HAD ASKED HIM
TO RAISE WITH FEITH
ITALY'S DESIRE TO SIGN A PROCUREMENT "DECLARATION OF
PRINCIPLES" SIMILAR TO THOSE
THE US HAD SIGNED WITH SPAIN AND OTHER ALLIES. FEITH NOTED
THAT THERE WAS ONE
SENSITIVE ISSUE WITH REGARD TO COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH
THIRD COUNTRIES THAT HAD
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PAGE 04 ROME 05193 02 OF 03 232007Z
TO BE SETTLED, BUT THAT THIS WAS A SOLUBLE ISSUE. HE TOLD
MARTINO THAT HE HAD
ALREADY ASKED EMBASSY ROME TO RESOLVE THIS.

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
--------------


9. (C) REFERRING TO THE EUROPEAN UNION DECISION EXPECTED THE
SAME DAY ON NEGOTIATING
ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENTS WITH THE US, FEITH SAID THAT THE ICC
WAS A RADICAL DEPARTURE
IN INTERNATIONAL LAW. THOSE WHO HAD BECOME PARTIES TO THE
STATUTE WERE LEGISLATING
FOR THOSE WHO HAD NOT; THE US COULD NOT ACCEPT SUCH AN
IMPOSITION. MARTINO SAID THAT
HE HAD ASKED HIS STAFF TO ASSESS HOW TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT
OF THE ICC ON PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS, NOTING THAT AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT WAS IMPERFECT
FOR THE US NEEDS, BUT
A GOOD STOP-GAP. FEITH SAID THAT THE USG WOULD BE OBLIGED TO
CONSIDER THE ICC AS
A NEW RISK FACTOR IN DECIDING WHICH MISSIONS TO EMBARK UPON;
IN MARGINAL CASES, IT

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8297

PAGE 01 ROME 05193 03 OF 03 232007Z
ACTION PM-00

INFO LOG-00 CIAE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EUR-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /007W
-------------- FCFD58 232007Z /40
P 231456Z OCT 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6529
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO NATO EU COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL MILAN
JOINT STAFF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005193

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2007
TAGS: MOPS PREL PREL PREL IT ITMOPS ITMOPS IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALY'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENDURING FREEDOM: U/S
FEITH'S MEETING WITH MINDEF MARTINO, SEPT. 30

COULD BE THE FACTOR THAT CAUSES THE US NOT TO UNDERTAKE A
MISSION. IT WILL ALSO
BECOME PART OF OUR DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP WITH FRIENDS.
MARTINO SAID THE WORLD WOULD
THEN BE THE LOSER, AND OFFERED TO HELP, PERHAPS BY WRITING AN
OP-ED COLUMN FOR THE
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PAGE 02 ROME 05193 03 OF 03 232007Z
ITALIAN PRESS. FEITH SAID ITALY (AND THE UK) COULD BEST HELP
BY RAPIDLY CONCLUDING
AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT WITH THE US, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD SEE
THAT EVEN SUPPORTERS
OF THE ICC FIND NO CONTRADICTION IN SIGNING SUCH AN AGREEMENT.

BUDGET WOES
--------------


10. (C) FOR THE THIRD TIME, MARTINO LAMENTED THE EFFECT THE
JUST-SUBMITTED BUDGET
WOULD HAVE ON THE MINISTRY'S PLANS. ITALY WAS STILL SPENDING
JUST 1.05% OF ITS GDP
ON DEFENSE, ALTHOUGH THE GOI FULLY APPRECIATED THE NEED FOR
ITALY AND ALL OF EUROPE
TO SPEND MORE ON CAPABILITY-BUILDING. THE GOVERNMENT HAD
MADE A COMMITMENT TO
IMPROVE THIS RATIO TO 1.5% BY 2006. MARTINO HOPED THIS GOAL
WOULD BE ACHIEVED,
EVEN THOUGH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CONSTRAINTS MEANT NO PROGRESS
IN THAT DIRECTION.
HE QUOTED WHAT LORD ROBERTSON HAD SAID ABOUT ITALY'S DEFENSE
CAPABILITIES IN A
RECENT MEETING WITH BERLUSCONI: "YOUR OUTPUT IS ADMIRABLE;
YOUR INPUT IS INADEQUATE."


11. (U) USD/P DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR THIS
CABLE.
SEMBLER

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2002ROME05193 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL