IRELAND TO EXTEND ISAF MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000852

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2006
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL UN
SUBJECT: IRELAND TO EXTEND ISAF MISSION

REF: DUBLIN 381

Classified By: DCM Jane B. Fort, reason 1.4 (d)


1. (SBU) POLOFF was informed today by Irish DFA UN
Division Chief John Deady that the Irish Government had taken
a decision "at the highest political level" to extend their
peacekeepers to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The troops
had been scheduled to withdraw this summer, and will now stay
on for another twelve months.


2. (C) This decision follows weeks of embassy outreach to
the GOI to urge them to remain in the mission. Our initial
soundings (reftel and previous) indicated that the Irish
Defense Forces were balking at stretching personnel and
resources to remain a part of the ISAF mission. We are
extremely pleased that our continued engagement at the
political level resulted in this decision to push back on the
military's reluctance, and to reaffirm the Irish commitment
to global counterterrorism -- particularly as they prepare to
host the U.S.-EU Summit on June 26.


3. (U) Kabul minimize considered.
FORT