ACTION REQUEST--CONTINUED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002954

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015
TAGS: PBTS PTER PINS PREL PGOV IZ IR JO KU SY SA TU
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST--CONTINUED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY SUPPORT FOR BORDER SUPPORT TEAM MISSION IN IRAQ

REF: A. US CUSTOMS 131939Z APR 05

B. BAGHDAD 1562

C. BAGHDAD 1646

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires David M. Satterfield for reasons 1.4
(a),(b) and (d)


1. (C/REL TO UK AND AUS) This is an action request. See
paragraph 2.


2. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) Action Request: Post asks that
the Department of State request the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) (Customs and Border Protection) to continue
its support of the Border Support Team mission in Iraq.
Teams at Trebil, Waleed, Rabia and Baghdad International
Airport (BIAP) are due to depart at the end of their
ninety-day tours at varying dates in September. Post asks
that the Department request replacement teams and that they
be deployed in time to allow for an overlap of at least one
week at the border sites. The same standard should be
applied to subsequent replacements. Post welcomes the DHS's
offer to provide a Country Director in late July. End action
request.


3. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) Border Support Teams (BSTs)
deployed to Iraq by the DHS Customs and Border Protection
agency are an essential ingredient in the execution of Iraq's
strategy to reduce illegal traffic and to facilitate the flow
of legal cross-border traffic. BSTs are performing superbly
at the three border ports of entry (POE) and at the Baghdad
International Airport (BIAP). One major result of their work
is expedited trucking from Syria and Jordan, essential to the
food distribution system in Iraq. Although not quantifiable,
the BSTs have also likely disrupted smuggling and the flow of
foreign fighters. While noticeable progress is already
evident, numerous challenges remain, making their presence in
Iraq a continuing requirement.


4. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) The Iraqi initiative to provide a
unified POE command under a single officer with
multi-ministerial authority is a new initiative, which
followed considerable coalition encouragement. The new POE
Directors General are going to need mentoring and a period of
staff development. The BSTs represent the best means of
delivering this expertise and support, making them
fundamental to the success of the initiative.


5. (C/- REL TO UK AND AUS) Other challenges at the POEs
will also require BST involvement for the foreseeable future.
BSTs have identified shortcomings in physical security and
traffic flow that take time to eliminate, both for
construction and for development of proper implementing
procedures. They have also identified challenges in
organization and training of POE personnel. While some of
the solutions are fairly simple procedural matters, the BSTs
have seen that the POE personnel revert to their previous
inefficient and ineffective procedures when appropriate
leadership is not available. That leadership is often
provided by the BST; developing the Iraqi leadership to
perform the same function will take much time. Some
technological solutions (e.g., PISCES, Z-Back Scatter) being
introduced will also require significant time to ensure
effective operations and maintenance. Rapid personnel
turnover in the POEs -- probably a fact of life because of
their remote locations and austere operating environs -
- also means that solutions to problems depend on the
long-term commitment of the BSTs. Success at the POEs is
further dependent on the development of complementary support
capabilities being developed at the appropriate ministries,
another long-term issue.


6. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) DHS has proposed a fairly robust
Baghdad-based team that moves out to the POEs as required.
If funding can be found, DHS's proposal may be an acceptable
alternative in the mid-term future; but not until conditions
for success have been established at least at the current
locations. Other POEs (e.g., ArAr, Um Qasr, Habur Gate) face
challenges and may need BSTs of their own in the mid-term.
Options for deploying teams to those POEs need to be retained.


7. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) Based on their employment
experience, BST members have recommended changes to team
composition and employment. The addition of the promised DHS
Country Director to the Mission Country Team will enhance the
ability of the Mission to evaluate the performance of the
BSTs and to make decisions about team composition and
employment principles, as well as the need for subsequent
replacements.


8. (C/ REL TO UK AND AUS) By having a positive effect on
the legal traffic flow at the POEs, DHS Border Support Teams
complement nicely the efforts of the Multi-National
Force-Iraq to stop the illegal flow along other parts of the
border. DHS continued support of this important mission
would be greatly appreciated.


9. (U) REO BASRAH, REO HILLAH, REO MOSUL and REO KIRKUK
minimize considered.
Satterfield