CZECH AMBASSADOR "OFFERS" FIELD HOSPITAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000747 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2013 TAGS: MARR PREL US IZ CZ SUBJECT: CZECH AMBASSADOR "OFFERS" FIELD HOSPITAL Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (C) In a conversation on the evening of February 27 Czech Ambassador Jana Hybashkova (please protect) told the Ambassador that her country had a field hospital that it was prepared to deploy to the AOR for possible duty in Iraq upon US request. She said that all the internal political approvals had already been obtained (as a byproduct of obtaining the approvals for the Czech contribution to the CJTF-CM). The only reason her government had not yet come forward to offer the hospital was financial. Recent increases in its contribution to the CJTF-CM and an upcoming contribution of SOF forces for Afghanistan have depleted the Czech military's discretionary financial resources completely. Hybashkova doubted that they could even pay for transport. However, if the US requested the hospital and was prepared to help with transport/expenses, she was sure the hospital would be made available. She added that the 150-bed unit could handle 500-600 casualties per day. It had seen action in Kosovo and Afghanistan already; the members of its staff were proven performers. ¶2. (C) Comment: We have shared the above information with CFLCC and been advised that it is interested in this prospective offer. CENTCOM and/or Embassy Prague may wish to pursue the matter with Czech authorities as appropriate. JONES