KEEPING ITALIAN SUPPORT STRONG

S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 000292

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR IT ITPREL ITPREL IRAQI FREEDOM FORCES IN ITALY
SUBJECT: KEEPING ITALIAN SUPPORT STRONG


TRANSIT OF US MILITARY PERSONNEL THROUGH ITALIAN MILITARY
AIRFIELDS ONLY, AND THAT BOTH HAD RATIFIED HIS DECISION.


6. (C) COMMENT. THE GOI CLEARLY IS OPERATING IN A PRESSURE
COOKER OF PUBLIC AND PARLIAMENTARY ANXIETY ABOUT POSSIBLE
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ. AS MARTINO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR,
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PAGE 02 ROME 00292 02 OF 02 241758Z
THIS ACTS AS A UNIFYING FACTOR FOR THE OPPOSITION. THE
ITALIAN PUBLIC SEES THESE ISSUES AS MATTERS OF WAR VERSUS
PEACE, REGARDLESS OF THE REALITY, AND THE OPPOSITION IS
POISED TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE. ADDED PRESSURE FROM ITALY'S
EU ALLIES DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY EASIER FOR BERLUSCONI'S
ADMINISTRATION TO AGREE TO EVEN ROUTINE REQUESTS, LET ALONE
PROVIDE MORE SENSITIVE ASSISTANCE. ADVANCE NOTICE, WITH
PLAIN LANGUAGE EXPLANATIONS OF WHAT WE NEED, TO SHARE WITH
SENIOR MOD AND MFA OFFICIALS WILL HELP THE GOI TO HELP US.
GIVEN THE OVER-REACTIVE PRESS ENVIRONMENT THAT ALMOST ASSURES
MISINTERPRETATIONS AND INACCURACIES, USG COMMENTS ABOUT
ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR IRAQI CONTINGENCIES WILL NEED TO BE
PARTICULARLY CAUTIOUS. THE GOI'S STRATEGY OF RETAINING
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT THROUGH CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION
SHARING -- WHAT THE PM'S RIGHT-HAND, GIANNI LETTA, DESCRIBED
TO THE DCM AS "INNOCULATION" OF THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST
POLITICAL ATTACKS -- MAY MARGINALLY ADD TO THE TIME NEEDED TO
PROCESS OUR REQUESTS, BUT THE GOI - AT THE TOP LEVEL -
CONSIDERS IT CRITICAL TO KEEPING ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR USG
POLICIES AND OPERATIONS STRONG. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER

SECRET

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SECRET PTQ1259

PAGE 01 ROME 00292 01 OF 02 241758Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DOTE-00
PERC-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-01 DHS-00 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /005W
-------------- 2B2F90 241758Z /38
O 241727Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7812
INFO SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000292

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR IT ITPREL ITPREL IRAQI FREEDOM FORCES IN ITALY
SUBJECT: KEEPING ITALIAN SUPPORT STRONG

REF: A. 02 ROME 6167

B. ROME 0009

C. ROME 0183

D. IIR 6 850 0064 03

E. IIR 6 850 0074 03

SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 00292 01 OF 02 241758Z
CLASSIFIED BY: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5(B),
(D)


1. (S) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. WHILE PM BERLUSCONI'S SUPPORT
FOR THE US APPROACH TO IRAQ REMAINS RELIABLE, THE GOI - WITH
EXTREME CAUTION - IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN EVENTUAL
PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE AND VOTE ON THE EXTENT OF ITALY'S
SUPPORT. (REF A). THE GOI CONTINUES TO WORK WITH US TO FIND
WAYS TO SAY "YES" TO OUR REQUESTS, BUT INCREASING PUBLIC AND
PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURE MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROCEED
CAUTIOUSLY AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW (REFS B, C, D). POST
APPRECIATES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND
PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTICE. OUR CONTACTS HAVE STRESSED THAT
EARLY NOTICE (24 HOURS AT A MINIMUM) AND CONTINUED
COORDINATION WITH MILITARY AND POLITICAL LEADERS IS THE BEST
WAY TO HELP ITALY TO HELP US. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.


2. (C) THE GOI IS WORKING TO ACCOMMODATE SEVERAL RECENT USG
MILITARY REQUESTS FOR OVERFLIGHT AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR
IRAQ-RELATED CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS. HOWEVER, SENIOR MOD AND
MFA OFFICIALS HAVE UNDERSCORED AGAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSE
COORDINATION AND ADVANCE NOTICE IN THE CURRENT SENSITIVE
POLITICAL CLIMATE. EVEN OPERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED AS
ROUTINE IN THE PAST ARE SUBJECT TO CLOSER SCRUTINY. FOR
EXAMPLE, SHORT-NOTICE DELTA CONTRACT MILITARY TRANSPORT
FLIGHTS THROUGH CIVILIAN AIRPORTS ARE BEING REDIRECTED BY THE
GOI AWAY FROM ROME'S MAIN AIRPORT BECAUSE OF THEIR GREATER
PUBLIC SENSITIVITY (SEE BELOW).


3. (C) IN A JANUARY 24 CONVERSATION WITH DCM, MFA POLITICAL
DIRECTOR GIANCARLO ARAGONA NOTED THAT ITALY IS UNDER
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PAGE 03 ROME 00292 01 OF 02 241758Z
CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE FROM SOME EU MEMBERS TO MODULATE ITS
SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE US MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ. BANNER
HEADLINES IN THE ITALIAN PRESS (INACCURATELY) SPINNING WHITE
HOUSE STATEMENTS ABOUT ITALIAN SUPPORT MADE IT EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT FOR ITALY TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE EU POSITIONS,
ARAGONA SAID. DEFENSE MINISTER MARTINO'S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR
ECHOED ARAGONA'S CONCERNS IN A JANUARY 24 MEETING WITH
A/POL-MIL COUNSELOR, ADDING THAT IT WOULD BE A TOPIC OF
DISCUSSION AT A COUNCIL OF MINISTER'S MEETING LATER THAT DAY.
EVEN THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MENTIONED THE FEEDING FRENZY
IN THE PRESS TO THE DCM AT A JANUARY 23 EVENT, ADDING THAT
THE PM, DEFMIN, FM AND DEP. PM HAD AGREED AT A MINI CABINET
MEETING EARLIER IN THE DAY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE USG
REQUEST FOR OVERFLIGHTS AND BASE ACCESS.


4. (C) PM BERLUSCONI AND OTHER MINISTERS, RESPONDING TO PRESS
INQUIRIES ABOUT THE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY, WERE CONSTRAINED TO EMPHASIZE THAT ITALY HAS MADE NO
DECISIONS ON MILITARY PARTICIPATION, THAT SUCH A DECISION
WOULD HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT, AND THAT THE
GOI STRONGLY WISHES TO SEE EXPLICIT UN ENDORSEMENT OF ANY
MILITARY ACTION. EMBASSY HAS CIRCULATED WIDELY, IN ENGLISH
AND IN ITALIAN, EXCERPTS FROM THE TRANSCRIPT SHOWING WHAT WAS
ACTUALLY SAID AT THE WASHINGTON PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT IT WILL
BE HARD TO ROLL BACK THE MISINTERPRETATIONS FOSTERED IN THE
PUBLIC AND MUCH OF PARLIAMENT. THAT THE TOP GOI OFFICIALS ARE
DISCUSSING WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE ROUTINE ACCESS REQUESTS IS
ONE SIGN THAT THE VOLATILE POLITICAL SCENE IS FORCING THE
GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED VERY CAREFULLY, WITH AN EYE ON THE MOOD
OF THE PUBLIC, PARLIAMENT, AND ITS EU AND NATO ALLIES. PUT
SIMPLY, THE GOVERNMENT FEELS OBLIGED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IT
SECRET

PAGE 04 ROME 00292 01 OF 02 241758Z
HAS NOT SIMPLY HANDED A BLANK CHECK TO THE USG.


5. (S) THE GOI'S JANUARY 24 DECISION TO REDIRECT DELTA
CONTRACT FLIGHTS TRANSPORTING ARMED AND UNIFORMED US MILITARY
PERSONNEL WITH WEAPONS AND AMMO FROM ROME'S COMMERCIAL
AIRPORT (FIUMICINO) TO A MILITARY AIRFIELD (REF E) IS ANOTHER
SIGN THAT, WHILE WE CAN EXPECT GOI SUPPORT FOR OUR REQUESTS,
IT WILL NOT BE UNCONDITIONAL. VCHOD'S FIRST REACTION WHEN
BRIEFED BY DATT (WHO HAD LEARNED OF THE MATTER HOURS BEFORE)
THAT DELTA FLIGHTS WERE DUE TO BEGIN ARRIVING THE NEXT
MORNING AT FIUMICINO WAS DISBELIEF, FOLLOWED BY WILLINGNESS
TO MOVE THE MATTER FORWARD TO THE DEFMIN AND OTHER RELEVANT
MINISTRIES (MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY).
LATER THAT EVENING, VCHOD NOTIFIED DATT THAT THE FLIGHTS
COULD NOT TRANSIT ITALIAN CIVIL AIRPORTS BUT OFFERED THE US
USE OF A MILITARY AIR BASE, SUCH AS SIGONELLA, AVIANO OR EVEN
PRACTICA DI MARE (20 KM SOUTH OF ROME). (NOTE: EMBASSY IS
NOW COORDINATING WITH DELTA AND USAIRWAYS REPRESENTATIVES TO
REDIRECT THE FLIGHTS, WHICH REPORTEDLY HAVE BEEN TRANSITING
TROOPS THROUGH ITALY SINCE JANUARY 21. END NOTE.) BOTH VCHOD
AND DEFMIN'S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR CAUTIONED THAT IT MAY BE
NECESSARY TO ADVISE PARLIAMENT AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO
BEGINNING THE TRANSIT FLIGHTS. LATE ON JANUARY 24, DEFMIN
MARTINO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT HE HAD INFORMED PM
BERLUSCONI AND PRESIDENT CIAMPI OF HIS DECISION TO PERMIT

SECRET

SECRET PTQ1260

PAGE 01 ROME 00292 02 OF 02 241758Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OMB-01 DHS-00 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /005W
-------------- 2B2F98 241758Z /38
O 241727Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7813
INFO SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 000292

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR MOPS MARR EAIR IT ITPREL ITPREL IRAQI FREEDOM FORCES IN ITALY
SUBJECT: KEEPING ITALIAN SUPPORT STRONG

TRANSIT OF US MILITARY PERSONNEL THROUGH ITALIAN MILITARY
AIRFIELDS ONLY, AND THAT BOTH HAD RATIFIED HIS DECISION.


6. (C) COMMENT. THE GOI CLEARLY IS OPERATING IN A PRESSURE
COOKER OF PUBLIC AND PARLIAMENTARY ANXIETY ABOUT POSSIBLE
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ. AS MARTINO TOLD THE AMBASSADOR,
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 00292 02 OF 02 241758Z
THIS ACTS AS A UNIFYING FACTOR FOR THE OPPOSITION. THE
ITALIAN PUBLIC SEES THESE ISSUES AS MATTERS OF WAR VERSUS
PEACE, REGARDLESS OF THE REALITY, AND THE OPPOSITION IS
POISED TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE. ADDED PRESSURE FROM ITALY'S
EU ALLIES DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY EASIER FOR BERLUSCONI'S
ADMINISTRATION TO AGREE TO EVEN ROUTINE REQUESTS, LET ALONE
PROVIDE MORE SENSITIVE ASSISTANCE. ADVANCE NOTICE, WITH
PLAIN LANGUAGE EXPLANATIONS OF WHAT WE NEED, TO SHARE WITH
SENIOR MOD AND MFA OFFICIALS WILL HELP THE GOI TO HELP US.
GIVEN THE OVER-REACTIVE PRESS ENVIRONMENT THAT ALMOST ASSURES
MISINTERPRETATIONS AND INACCURACIES, USG COMMENTS ABOUT
ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR IRAQI CONTINGENCIES WILL NEED TO BE
PARTICULARLY CAUTIOUS. THE GOI'S STRATEGY OF RETAINING
PARLIAMENTARY SUPPORT THROUGH CONSULTATION AND INFORMATION
SHARING -- WHAT THE PM'S RIGHT-HAND, GIANNI LETTA, DESCRIBED
TO THE DCM AS "INNOCULATION" OF THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST
POLITICAL ATTACKS -- MAY MARGINALLY ADD TO THE TIME NEEDED TO
PROCESS OUR REQUESTS, BUT THE GOI - AT THE TOP LEVEL -
CONSIDERS IT CRITICAL TO KEEPING ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR USG
POLICIES AND OPERATIONS STRONG. END COMMENT.
SEMBLER

SECRET

>
2003ROME00292 - Classification: SECRET