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