CANADA TO PROVIDE BATTALION AND BRIGADE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000435

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF IZ CA ISAF
SUBJECT: CANADA TO PROVIDE BATTALION AND BRIGADE
HEADQUARTERS FOR ISAF IV AND V

REF: STATE 29380

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Brian Flora,
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Canadian Defense Minister John McCallum
announced on February 12 that Canada will contribute a
battalion and a brigade headquarters - a total of 1500 to
2000 personnel - to the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan beginning in August. Two
rotations of Canadian Forces will be in Afghanistan for six
months each, covering ISAF IV and ISAF V. Canada is looking
to partner with Germany, the Netherlands or a NATO contingent
in ISAF IV, and with Italy in ISAF V. While the official
opposition Canadian Alliance Party has criticized the ISAF
commitment as an easy alternative to military participation
in Iraq, the GoC still has its options open, especially for
naval and air assets already in the region as part of
Operation Enduring Freedom. The Chretien Government's
unwillingness to take deployment steps that could be seen as
prejudging UN inspections in Iraq made ISAF a more attactive
option for the use of Canadian ground forces. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) While McCallum had discussed Canada's ISAF
contribution with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld on February 4,
the GoC had put off announcing this decision because it
wanted this to be seen as separate from a Canadian decision
on a military contribution against Iraq. McCallum emphasized
to the press that the ISAF contribution does not affect
Canada's decision on Iraq, though he admitted it limits the
availability of certain forces. The far more likely
contribution for Iraq is Canadian naval and air assets
already in theater as part of Operation Enduring Freedom
(OEF). Canada is currently in command of Naval Task Force
151, and is deploying a Destroyer to the region.


3. (C) Ever since the GoC announced that it would not be
replacing its light infantry battalion that served in
Afghanistan January - July 2002 as part of OEF, it has kept
open the possibility of sending troops back to Afghanistan in
2003, when operational tempo made it more feasible. After
his January 9 meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld and discussions
with other allies, McCallum told Cabinet that Canada was
being encouraged to take on a leadership role in ISAF.
Internally, the Canadian Forces complained that this
foreclosed the ground forces option in Iraq, but they were
overruled. As Ron Hoffman, Foreign Affairs Director for
Defense and Security Relations, told us, the GoC takes
seriously its obligations in Afghanistan and wants to help
ensure the success of the transition there.


4. (C) Wendy Gilmour, Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for
Regional Security and Peacekeeping, told us that German and
Dutch military officials will be briefing Canadian
counterparts on ISAF on February 18. The Canadian Forces do
not have sufficient resources available to lead ISAF on their
own, Gilmour said, and they hope to partner with the Germans,
the Dutch or (if France relents) a NATO contingent in ISAF
IV. Prime Minister Chretien has already discussed a possible
partnership with German Chancellor Schroeder. For ISAF V,
Canada hopes that Italy will be able to join. Gilmour noted
that Italy has expressed interest in that time frame, coming
after an Italian battalion is scheduled to depart Kosovo.


5. (C) Canada will be working on a force generation plan as
it sees what capabilities are needed to complement other
partners. Transport for the Canadian Forces is likely to be
commercial, assuming the security situation in Afghanistan
does not deteriorate. We asked about Canada's views on
possibly expanding ISAF beyond Kabul. Gilmour said that she
did not expect the ISAF mandate to change. As for working
with Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs - reftel),Gilmour
had earlier expressed concern about PRTs blurring the line
between combat and peace support missions, but said that she
recently had gotten positive feedback from NGOs and the UN
about PRT efforts in Afghanistan.
CELLUCCI