DOD DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN EUROSATORY 2006

UNCLAS PARIS 000311 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TPP, EB/CBA, EUR/WE and PM/OS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: FR PINS ETRD MARR MILI SUBJECT: DOD DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN EUROSATORY 2006 ¶1. IN ANTICIPATION OF JUNE 2006 EUROSATORY, U.S. EMBASSY PARIS STRONGLY SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES DIRECT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTICIPATION IN THIS IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL EVENT. ¶2. THIS LARGEST LAND ARMAMENT TRADE SHOW, SCHEDULED FOR 12-16 JUNE 2006, PROVIDES AN UNEQUALLED SHOWCASE FOR THE BEST IN U.S. TECHNOLOGY. DOD'S ENTHUSIASTIC AND SUCCESSFUL PRESENCE AT THE FOUR PREVIOUS EUROSATORY EXPOSITIONS SERVED TO ILLUSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO NATO AND COALITIONS AND TO DEMONSTRATE OUR CAPACITY FOR TECHNICAL AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP WITHIN ALLIANCES/COALITIONS. OUR BEST SOLDIERS STANDING IN FRONT OF OUR BEST EQUIPMENT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE OUR VOCATION TO LEADERSHIP. ¶3. THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PARIS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE EQUIPMENT SELECTED FOR THE DOD CORRAL INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM THE PATRIOT PAC-3, M1A2 ABRAMS MAIN BATTLE TANK, M2 BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE AND THE STRYKER FAMILY OF VEHICLES. GIVEN THE ROLE OF THESE WEAPONS IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM, A DISPLAY OF THIS EQUIPMENT WITH DESERT CAMOFLAGE PAINT, ACCOMPANIED BY US SOLDIERS IN DESERT BDUS WOULD MAXIMIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. WE WOULD ALSO SUPPORT DISPLAY OF THE MLRS, HMARS AND THE HUNTER OR SHADOW UAV. AS MAIN THEMES FOR THE EVENT EMERGE, REQUESTED EQUIPMENT MAY CHANGE AND WILL BE REFLECTED VIA SEPCOR. ¶4. A STRONG DOD PRESENCE IN 2006 WILL ONCE AGAIN ESTABLISH THE U.S. AS THE STANDARD AGAINST WHICH ALLIANCE INTEROPERABILITY IS MEASURED AND SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. ADDITIONALLY, DOD PRESENCE SERVES AS AN INVITATION TO PURSUE TRANSATLANTIC ARMAMENTS COOPERATION AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE IN AN ERA WHEN SOME EUROPEANS SEE ACQUISITION BASED ON EUROPEAN PREFERENCE AS THE SOLUTION TO THEIR DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL REQUIREMENTS. ¶5. U.S. EMBASSY PARIS CONSIDERS EUROSATORY 2006 AN EXEMPLARY OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE VIA A STRATEGIC PARTICIPATION PLAN THAT THE UNITED STATES REMAINS COMMITTED TO LEADERSHIP IN ACHIEVING GLOBAL SECURITY AND STABILITY. RECOMMEND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROVAL FOR FULL, DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN EUROSATORY 2006. LEACH