TASK FORCE XATRUCH UPDATE: MADURO RESOLUTE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000234

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2014
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL PGOV IZ HO
SUBJECT: TASK FORCE XATRUCH UPDATE: MADURO RESOLUTE IN
CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

REF: A. REF: TEGUCIGALPA 1724


B. TEGUCIGALPA 2846

Classified By: Ambassador Larry L. Palmer;
Reasons 1.4 (A),(B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In face of overwhelming domestic opposition
and high costs to his own political popularity, President
Maduro reaffirmed Honduras' commitment to send the next
contingent of troops to Iraq and indicated those troops are
likely to be deployed there beyond the initial one-year
period. In fact, the second contingent departs Honduras
early next week. Maduro's decisive public comments were made
immediately in the face of local media coverage of
Nicaragua's reported decision not to send its second
contingent to Iraq because of financial difficulties. Recent
polls show that between 67 to 80 per cent of the Honduran
public is opposed to the presence of Honduran troops in Iraq.
Minister of Defense Federico Breve has repeatedly
highlighted the desire for the USG to provide concrete
assistance to the Honduran Armed Forces in response to strong
Honduran support for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In particular,
Breve is seeking parity for FMF with other Central American
countries. President of Congress Pepe Lobo told the
Ambassador he believes he can win Congressional approval for
an extension of the Honduran deployment for another year.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On January 22, when much of the local media gave
prominent coverage to reports that Nicaragua would not be
sending its second contingent to Iraq because of financial
difficulties, President Ricardo Maduro declared that "there
would be no change of policy." "Honduras," he reaffirmed,
"is planning to rotate its first battalion for a second one."
He indicated that the rotation would take place in
mid-February. Maduro also reiterated that Honduras would
continue to support international efforts aimed at the
pacification, reconstruction, and democratization of Iraq.


3. (C) A clear sign of the political price to President
Maduro is reflected in comments made by his Nationalist Party
Deputy, Pompeyo Bonilla, who chairs the Congress's Defense
Committee. Separately the same day, Bonilla, who is
generally pro-U.S. and supportive of our interests, told
reporters that it would not be convenient to extend the
presence of Honduran troops in Iraq. Bonilla stressed that
the Congress had approved a one-year deployment to Iraq which
had always indicated a rotation of a second battalion to
replace the first. However, Bonilla made clear the Executive
Branch would have to seek congressional approval to prolong
Honduras' military participation in Iraq. With a clear eye
on recent public opinion polls, Bonilla then added that he
"did not believe it would be most convenient (for Honduras)
and did not believe that extending (the Honduran presence)
was a policy shared by the United Nations and other involved
countries." (COMMENT: President of Congress Pepe Lobo told
the Ambassador he believes he can win Congressional approval
for an extension of the Honduran deployment for another year.
END COMMENT.)


4. (U) A recent poll published on January 13 in El Heraldo
newspaper showed that 77.8 percent of the residents of
Tegucigalpa opposed the deployment of Honduran troops to
Iraq, while only 22.2 percent of Tegucigalpa residents
supported the deployment. The poll had a margin of error of
five percent.


5. (C) Ambassador and EmbOffs met January 27 with the new
commander and deputy commander of Task Force Xatruch.
Ambassador thanked the Task Force for its bravery and
dedication and wished them a safe deployment in Iraq. The
second contingent departs Honduras for Iraq early next week.
The Commander remains very concerned about the security at
the base housing the Honduran deployment, in particular the
problem of having the troops' meals picked up and delivered
on a regularly scheduled basis three times a day.


6. (SBU) At a January 27 luncheon at the Ambassador's
residence and in other recent discussions with EmbOffs,
Defense Minister Federico Breve and Chief of the Joint Staff
Isaias Barahona underscored Honduran resolve in support of
reconstruction efforts in Iraq. They especially noted the
positive impact the deployment was having on the troops in
Iraq. The troops strongly support their mission and the
public comments of those soldiers who have returned early due
to injuries have been unequivocally positive about the role
and conditions in Iraq. Breve and Barahona expressed
satisfaction that there had been no serious injuries or
fatalities involving Honduran troops, despite the two mortar
attacks on their compound. Barahona believes the troops are
well trained, noting a recent joint Honduran/Iraqi capture of
a suspected Iraqi terrorist outside the base. Breve,
however, also highlighted the budgetary impact the deployment
is having on the Armed Forces budget given the increased
costs of salaries and benefits.


7. (C) Breve also echoed security concerns due to the fact
that the Hondurans must make three food runs a day to pick up
their food. While the time of each pickup could be varied
somewhat, this was still an unnecessary risk in Breve's eyes.
This concern has also been reported in military channels.


8. (C) Breve has also repeatedly highlighted the desire for
the USG to provide concrete assistance to the Honduran Armed
Forces in response to strong Honduran support for Operation
Iraqi Freedom. In particular, Breve is seeking parity for
FMF with other Central American countries. Honduras wants
financial assistance for such priorities as airplane fuel for
intercepting narcotrafficking planes, helicopters to support
counternarcotics efforts, vehicles and spare parts for their
aging fleet, and other key needs.


9. (C) Comment. It is ironic that a task force providing
support to a key U.S. foreign policy objective is named after
the leader of the Honduran effort to defeat the American
filibuster William Walker in Central America in 1856-7.
Honduras has not wavered in having Task Force Xatruch fulfill
its commitment to Operation Iraqi Freedom, despite political
and budgetary costs. However, Honduran officials are
cognizant of the disparity in FMF assistance in the region,
and are seeking to end this imbalance as a stalwart ally of
the U.S. in Iraq. End Comment.


10. (U) Minimize considered.
PALMER