HONDURAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE NEEDS INFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000981 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM, WHA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC CENTCOM FOR J5 JCS FOR J5 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ HO SUBJECT: HONDURAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE NEEDS INFORMATION FROM CENTCOM PRIOR TO REQUESTING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR DEPLOYMENT OF HONDURAN TROOPS TO POST-WAR IRAQ REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 881 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 862 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Roger Pierce; Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). (C) DCM, DATT, MILGP Commander, and PolMilOff met with Honduran Minister of Defense (MOD) Federico Breve on April 23 and discussed, among other issues, the GOH's offer to provide Honduran troops for post-war humanitarian needs (demining or peacekeeping) in Iraq (refs A and B). MOD Breve told EmbOffs that he had a number of operational questions before the GOH was ready to ask for congressional approval of such a deployment. Post understands that the Honduran military liaison to CENTCOM, COL Carlos Andino Cobos, is working with CENTCOM to determine the most appropriate contribution of Honduran troops for post-war Iraq. In addition, Post's MILGP Commander will work with CENTCOM to seek answers to MOD Breve's specific questions to facilitate the fulfillment of the Honduran troop offer. Pierce