DEMARCHE TO DUTCH ON REQUEST FOR CS/CSS FOR OIF

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 002911 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/RSAT, EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM, JOINT STAFF FOR J-3/JODCENT, J-5 IPMC COALITION CELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ AF NL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO DUTCH ON REQUEST FOR CS/CSS FOR OIF AND OEF REF: A. STATE 318096 ¶B. STATE 321138 ¶C. THE HAGUE 2726 (NOTAL) Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARY DALY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D) ¶1. (S) PolMilOff delivered ref A request for Combat Support/Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) assets to Dutch MFA Security Policy Bureau Operations Chief Rob Gabrielse on November 17. Gabrielse (protect throughout) said the GONL was currently focused on the renewal of the deployment of Dutch forces in AlMuthanna province in Iraq (due to expire December 31) for another six months. The Cabinet is expected to approve an extension on November 21. While he thought the extension would go through, Gabrielse said he expected a robust debate in Parliament in the wake of the attack on Italian forces in Nasiriyah. Gabrielse felt a decision to renew the deployment was of the highest political importance and would send a strong signal of allied commitment to Iraq in the wake of the attack on the Italians. ¶2. (S) Concerning ref A additional requests for Iraq, Gabrielse said his initial reaction was that the Dutch want to know more about U.S. plans to turn over power to a transitional Iraqi government which would add a new dimension to the Dutch decision-making process (Note: post delivered ref B points to GONL on November 19). He noted that the CS/CSS assets requested would be deployed outside the current area of Dutch operations in AlMuthanna. This will raise questions under Article 100 of the Dutch constitution (Note: this refers to the elaborate Dutch approval process for military deployments, in which the government must fully explain the lines of command, the risks involved, etc.) Lastly, Gabrielse said he was not certain MOD had the assets available. That said, he advised PolMilOff he would immediately inject these points into the GONL's deliberations. ¶3. (S) On Afghanistan, Gabrielse said the GONL is still contemplating further involvement on the ground to include acceding to a German request for participation in the Konduz PRT, responding to NATO requests to address such ISAF shortfalls as running Kabul Airport, or deploying a small contingent of special operations forces (SOF) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. So far, the political leadership has been inclined to favor participating in the German-led PRT at Konduz. On SOF, Gabrielse noted ref A suggestion of a dialogue on this issue between the U.S. and the Dutch representative at CENTCOM in Tampa. Gabrielse underlined that such a discussion could only be exploratory in nature, and that the Dutch representative would not be in a position to make any commitments. That said, he thought it would be helpful if the U.S. could provide more information about how Dutch SOF assets might be employed. As reported ref C, the GONL was expected to address follow-on Dutch involvement on the ground in Afghanistan in November. ¶4. (S) Comment: Gabrielse's (a DAS-level official) comments represent an initial reaction. MFA is seized with getting the current deployment of Dutch troops to AlMuthanna extended this week. While technically a Cabinet approval will amount to a final decision, Parliament must still debate the matter and they will likely ask tough questions of FM de Hoop Scheffer and Defense Minister Kamp. We expect the deployment to be renewed. PM Balkenende, as well as Kamp and de Hoop Scheffer, have gone on record as saying the Dutch "can't simply walk away." Mission will continue to press ref A request with Dutch counterparts. End Comment. SOBEL