REQUEST FOR THEATER CLEARANCE AND SUPPORT:

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002515 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2013 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ HO SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR THEATER CLEARANCE AND SUPPORT: HONDURAN MOD PLANS TRAVEL TO IRAQ Classified By: AMBASSADOR LARRY L. PALMER; REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) EMBASSY REQUESTS CENTCOM THEATER CLEARANCE AND SUPPORT FOR PLANNED VISIT TO IRAQ BY HONDURAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE FREDERICO BREVE 11-13 NOV 03 TO VISIT THE 370 HONDURAN TROOPS STATIONED IN AN NAJAF. THE OFFICIAL PARTY WILL INCLUDE: THE HONORABLE FEDERICO D. ((BREVE)) TRAVIESO, MINISTER OF DEFENSE --PP: 001909; DOB: 18 AUG 45; ID: -8-1-1945-02144 MAJ GEN JOSE I. ((BARAHONA)) HERRERA, CHIEF OF THE JOINT STAFF (CHOD) --PP: 898583; DOB: 28 JUL 54; ID: 0501-1954-02563 LTC RAFAEL T. ((MORENO)),HONDURAN ARMY PAO --PP 093432; DOB 25 MAR 60; ID# 0801-1960-0125 COL RANDY JAMES,USAF, USMILGP COMMANDER (OFFICIAL ESCORT AND PAYING AGENT) --305-60-8415; 13 DEC 52 COL JAMES WILL SERVE AS PAYING AGENT FOR OFFICIAL EXPENSES FOR THE OFFICIAL PARTY. ¶2. (C) ADDITIONALLY, THE 3-PERSON PRESS CONTINGENT BELOW WILL ACCOMPANY THE MOD. REQUEST FULL LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS WELL FOR THIS GROUP, HOWEVER, THEY WILL PAY THEIR OWN EXPENSES. --DAGOBERTO ((RODRIGUEZ) COELLO - PP: A040837; DOB: 3 SEP 67; ID: 0801-1967-04337 --EDGARDO A. ((MELGAR)) MEJIA - PP: AWAITING; DOB: 17 NOV 68; ID: 0801-1968-06086 --CARLOS R. ((LAINEZ)) RODRIGUEZ - PP: AWAITING; DOB: 30 SEP 60; ID: 0801-1960-08005 ¶3. (C) OFFICIAL TRAVEL PLANS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 9 NOV - DEPART TEGUCIGALPA FOR MIAMI - AA 954 AT 1411 ARR MIAMI 1734 DEP FOR LONDON - BA 208 AT 2035 10 NOV ARR LONDON AT 0655 10 NOV DEP LONDON FOR KUWAIT CITY - BA 157 AT 2155 11 NOV ARR KUWAIT CITY AT 0655 --REQUEST VIP LOUNGE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE UPON ARRIVAL --REQUEST HOTEL RESERVATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION TO /FROM HOTEL (SEVEN PEOPLE PLUS LUGGAGE) PROPOSED OFFICIAL ITINERARY AS DISCUSSED WITH CENTCOM: 12 NOV 0900 DEPART KUWAIT CITY VIA C-130 FOR BAGHDAD 1000 ARRIVE BAGHDAD 1015 DEPART BAGHDAD FOR AL NAJAF (HO TROOP LOCATION) - VIA HELO 1115 ARRIVE AN NAJAF --REQUEST MEETING WITH POLISH MND COMMANDER --REQUEST MEETING WITH SPANISH BRIGADE COMMANDER REMAINDER OF AGENDA TBD BY HO TROOP COMMANDER, COL ANDINO ---AGENDA SHOULD INCLUDE PRESS OPPORTUNITIES, MEALS WITH THE TROOPS, MAIL DISTRIBUTION, TOUR OF THE HONDURAN AOR, RON WITH TROOPS, ETC 13 NOV @1300 DEPART AL NAJAF FOR BAGHDAD VIA HELO 1400 ARRIVE BAGHDAD 1415 DEPART BAGHDAD VIA C-130 FOR KUWAIT CITY 1515 ARRIVE KUWAIT CITY AGAIN, REQUEST ARRIVAL ASSISTANCE, HOTEL AND TRANS FOR ALL RON KUWAIT CITY 14 NOV DEPART FOR LONDON - BA 156 AT 0840 ARR LONDON 1255 RON LONDON 15 NOV DEPART LONDON FOR MIAMI - BA 207 AT 0940 ARR MIAMI 1425 - RON MIAMI 16 NOV DEPART FOR HONDURAS - AA 953 AT 1120 ARR TEGUCIGALPA 1246 - END OF OFFICIAL VISIT ¶4. (C) HONDURAS HAS BEEN A STRONG ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS, AND WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO SIGN AND RATIFY AN ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENT. HONDURAS ALSO WAS AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO OFFER TROOPS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. THIS DECISION WAS COSTLY, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND POLITICALLY. THE MOD'S VISIT IS IN PART TO ASSURE THE HONDURAN PEOPLE THAT THE TROOPS ARE WELL EQUIPPED, WELL PREPARED, AND ARE CARRYING OUT AN IMPORTANT MISSION THAT IS WORTH THE COST. THE VISIT ALSO IS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN GOH CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT TO CONTINUE TROOP INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ. THE NEXT TROOP ROTATION IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 04. REQUEST ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THIS VISIT SMOOTH AND FIRST RATE. ¶5. (C) HO GOC HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT THEY NEED TO SEND A DIP NOTE TO KUWAIT IAW THE SOFA Minimized Considered. Palmer