ITALIAN TROOPS IN OEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003793

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF IT IRAQI FREEDOM
SUBJECT: ITALIAN TROOPS IN OEF

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES EMIL SKODON FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D)


1. (C) CHARGE, ACCOMPANIED BY POLOFF, MET WITH ACTING
DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR TO THE PRIME MINISTER FRANCESCO TALO ON
AUGUST 20 TO DISCUSS A RANGE OF ISSUES (OTHER ISSUES REPORTED
SEPTEL). CHARGE TOLD TALO THAT THE U.S. WAS PLEASED WITH THE
HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ITALIAN OEF CONTINGENT
IN KHOST, AND ASKED WHAT THE REACTION MIGHT BE SHOULD ITALY
BE ASKED TO CONSIDER EXTENDING ITS OEF DEPLOYMENT PAST THE
SCHEDULED SEPTEMBER 15 DEPARTURE DATE. TALO REPLIED THAT THE
ANSWER WOULD DEPEND LARGELY ON WHETHER THE MOD CAN FIND THE
RESOURCES. IN THE EVENT A FORMAL USG REQUEST TO EXTEND IS
MADE, THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE WOULD LOOK FIRST TO THE MOD
TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES, ALREADY
STRETCHED VERY THIN. WITH THE MAJORITY OF SENIOR ITALIAN
OFFICIALS OUT OF ROME ON HOLIDAY, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO GET
A QUICK RESPONSE EVEN IF A FORMAL REQUEST IS MADE.


2. (C) TALO WENT ON TO SAY THAT ITALY NOW HAS 13,000 TROOPS
DEPLOYED OVERSEAS; MORE, HE STRESSED, THAN EVEN GERMANY.
ITALY KNEW IT WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE MOD'S CEILING OF
DEPLOYED TROOPS WHEN THE COMMITMENT TO CONTRIBUTE 1,000
SOLDIERS TO OEF WAS MADE, TALO SAID. SINCE THEN, ITALY HAD
DEPLOYED EVEN MORE TROOPS IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO USG REQUESTS
FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OIF, AND WAS STRETCHED EVEN THINNER.
(NOTE: WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOD CONSIDERS THE MAXIMUM
SUSTAINABLE NUMBER OF TROOPS ABROAD TO BE 10,000, WITH ROOM
FOR AN UNSUSTAINABLE 11-12,000 SURGE. END NOTE.)


3. (C) COMMENT. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR INFORMAL
APPROACHES TO THE ITALIAN DEFENSE GENERAL STAFF AND TO THE
PM'S STAFF IS THAT AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES IS KEY AND THE
RESOURCE PICTURE IS NOT ENCOURAGING. IN THE ABSENCE OF
OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS, WE HAVE NOT CONSULTED WITH VACATIONING
SENIOR ITALIAN DECISION-MAKERS. HOWEVER, IN AN INTERVIEW TO
BE RELEASED ON AUGUST 22, DEFMIN MARTINO REPORTEDLY SAID THAT
THE ITALIAN OEF CONTINGENT WILL NOT REMAIN IN AFGHANISTAN
AFTER ITS MANDATE EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 15. ITALIAN TROOPS
ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN WITHDRAWING FROM BAGHRAM ON AUGUST 22.
IF THE US MILITARY DECIDES AN EXTENSION IS NECESSARY, A
HIGH-LEVEL DOD CALL TO MARTINO MAY BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
TO PERSUADE THE MOD TO CONSIDER FILLING THE GAP.
SKODON

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2003ROME03793 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL