MFO: ITALY CANNOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 000323 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2013 TAGS: KMFO PREL IT IS EG NATO SUBJECT: MFO: ITALY CANNOT PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US MEDICAL FORCES REF: A. SECSTATE 15162 ¶B. ROME 278 CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ROME 00323 281702Z CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR THOMAS COUNTRYMAN FOR REASO NS 1.5 (B) AND (D) (C) ON JAN. 27, FRANCESCO TRUPIANO, THE MOD DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR, REPORTED TO POLMIL OFFICER THAT ITALY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THE USG REQUEST TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENTS FOR US MEDICAL FORCES IN THE MFO (REF A.) TRUPIANO STRESSED THAT THE GOI STUDIED THE USG REQUEST VERY CAREFULLY. HOWEVER, TRUPIANO SAID THAT THE GOI, FOR THE TIME BEING, IS UNABLE TO SUPPORT OUR MFO REQUEST SINCE THE GOI: -- ALREADY COMMITS 10,000 PERSONNEL TO INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS, MOSTLY IN THE BALKANS AND THE MIDDLE EAST. -- IS COMMITTING 1,000 ALPINI TROOPS TO OEF. -- NEEDS TO RESERVE SOME OF ITS FORCES AND ASSETS FOR NATIONAL CONTINGENCIES RANGING FROM DISASTER RELIEF TO HOMELAND SECURITY. SEMBLER CONFIDENTIAL > 2003ROME00323 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL