IRAQ: CENTCOM PROPOSAL FOR US-TURKEY-IRAQI KURD

S E C R E T ANKARA 001638 SIPDIS EUR FOR PASCOE; NEA FOR CROCKER; ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: CENTCOM PROPOSAL FOR US-TURKEY-IRAQI KURD POLICY CELL TO DECONFLICT FORCES AND AVOID CONFRONTATIONS (U) Classified by Ambassador W. Robert Pearson. Reasons 1.5 B and D. ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4. ¶2. (S) DCM was contacted March 14 by CENTCOM POLAD, who said that CDR CENTCOM wanted, as the minimum acceptable deliverable for upcoming talks with Turks and Iraqi Kurds, the establishment of a 24-hour/day policy-level cell staffed by US, Turkish and Iraqi Kurdish reps. The cell would deconflict forces, clarify rumors, and ensure that no unintended confrontations took place. CENTCOM said the cell could be based wherever it would be most effective, so long as it had access to information on a real-time basis. ¶3. (S) Comment: While we believe there is significant merit to a process to try to prevent misunderstanding spinning out of control in northern Iraq, we are concerned the Turks will not react positively, and we lack any details. The Turks have told us in the past that they will not share their military planning with the Iraqi Kurds. They will react badly to any arrangement that implies equality between the Turkish reps and reps of the Iraqi Kurdish parties. In addition, the Turks are likely to insist on the participation of an ITF rep, which could complicate matters in terms of sharing sensitive information. We also do not know whether this arrangement has been discussed with the Kurds or any other parties in advance. ¶4. (S) Post urgently seeks Washington guidance on the CENTCOM proposal in time to deploy during Amb. Khalilzad's March 14-15 bilaterals with the Turks. PEARSON