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