Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1891
2004-12-15 12:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS AU IZ BA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001891 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AU IZ BA
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER
5 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER HILL

Classified by A/DCM Hallie H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001891

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AU IZ BA
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER
5 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER HILL

Classified by A/DCM Hallie H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley met with
Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill December 5 on the
margins of the IISS Gulf Security Dialogue conference in
Manama. Hill said that Australia is staying in the Iraq
coalition and is looking at how its forces can be more
useful. DNSA Hadley suggested that the GOA might alter the
mission of its troops as a way to reaffirm its commitment.
Hill noted that he had discussed possible alternatives with
General Casey in Baghdad, including logistics training,
leadership/command and control training, force protection for
the Japanese, and patrolling border areas. DNSA Hadley
suggested protecting UN assets in Iraq. DNSA Hadley
expressed his concern that the intimidation campaign was
proving to be a strategic threat. The coalition should take
the fight to the enemy and intimidate the intimidators. Hill
said it was important that average Iraqis feel that they are
winners in the political process. Turning to Asia, Hill said
that the GOA is working closely with the new administration
in Indonesia. DNSA Hadley said that the USG is concerned
about a possible EU move to lift the ban on arms sales to
China. Hill agreed to take this message back to Canberra,
and said Australia supports U.S. policy on North Korea. End
Summary.

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Australia Committed to Iraq Coalition
--------------


2. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley opened his
December 5 meeting with Australian Defense Minister Robert
Hill by recognizing the difficult and dangerous work the
United States and Australia carry out together in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The relationship between the President, PM
Howard, and UK PM Blair is very strong. Hill affirmed that
Australia is staying in the coalition and stated that the
government is looking at how its forces in Iraq can be more
useful. The troop contribution is small but offers value

added. He recognized that the U.S. had made a huge
investment in Iraq and had paid a heavy price. He expressed
his appreciation for the American commitment; if the U.S. was
not there, "the place would be chaos."

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Change in Mission to Maximize Utility
--------------


3. (C) DNSA Hadley suggested that Australia might want to
alter the mission of its troops in Iraq so as to reaffirm its
commitment to the coalition, even if the number of troops did
not go up. He noted the perception that the coalition was
wasting away, and said that the election results may prompt
other nations to contribute troops. The IIG has stated that
it does not want troops coming from neighboring countries,
but rather wants to focus on training Iraqis. Hill responded
that he had met with General Casey in Baghdad a few days
earlier, who had suggested that, now that the Australia
contingent had completed training 27 battalions, it could
work on logistics training. Hill thought this type of work
could be useful. Casey had also proposed that Australia work
on leadership/command and control training, which Hill
commented is more complicated. Hill suggested to Casey that
Australia could take on supporting the Japanese if the Dutch
contingent departs, but Casey thought this offers limited
utility from a military perspective. Hill noted that it is
important for Japan to stay in the coalition, and Australia
could provide the necessary force protection. Alternatively,
the Australian troops could help patrol border areas.


4. (C) DNSA Hadley said that controlling the border is
important, but in the case of Syria, is not enough. Syria is
serving as a mustering point for jihadists to get money,
training, and equipment. Shutting down these centers would
take pressure off controlling the border. Another issue to
consider is protecting UN assets in Iraq. The MNF-I is
reluctant to take this on because it is less important from
an operational perspective.
--------------
Intimidate the Intimidators
--------------


5. (C) DNSA Hadley stated that the intimidation campaign,
particularly the killing of police, is proving to be a
strategic threat. An Iraqi who sides with the coalition, he
commented, demonstrates a lot of courage. But the election
could change the dynamic and make it easier for Iraqis to
side with the GOI. Hill responded that the owner of the
building occupied by the Australian Embassy in Baghdad told
the Embassy that he wants them to leave the property. He and
his family had received threats, and a member of the family
had been killed. DNSA Hadley said that the coalition should
find a way to take the fight to the enemy, to intimidate the
intimidators. Hill said it is important that average Iraqis
feel that they are winners in the political process. DNSA
Hadley agreed, and suggested that the IIG find a way to get
funds for reconstruction projects directly into the hands of
the property owners, so they can make decisions about how the
money is spent. He noted that many Iraqis are hesitant to
take work on coalition-funded reconstruction projects
because of the threats.

--------------
Relations with Asia
--------------


6. (C) Turning to issues closer to home, Hill said that the
GOA is working closely with the new administration in
Indonesia, encouraging the government to continue moving in
the right direction. DNSA Hadley commented that the
President had met with the new Indonesian president in Chile,
and he had made a good impression. Hill said that southern
Thailand is not good right now, and the Philippines seems to
be struggling. However, Australia now has better relations
with Malaysia. Burma continues to move in the wrong
direction; Australia has tried many policy formulations but
nothing seems to work. The Pacific states are strained,
dealing with a culture clash and bad habits 20 years after
independence. DNSA Hadley said that the USG had spoken with
the Europeans about the proposal to lift the EU ban on arms
sales to China. The reaction in Washington would be very
negative. The Europeans would sell hardware to China that
could be used to kill Americans in the area. Hill promised
to take this message back to Canberra. He continued that
Australia supports what the U.S. wants to do about North
Korea. DNSA Hadley said that China is the key - rather than
trying to be a broker, it should pick a side and lean on the
North Koreans.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.


8. (C) The NSC cleared this message.

MONROE