GOL DISINCLINED TO EMBED TROOPS IN IRAQI UNITS

S E C R E T VILNIUS 000930

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/ISO, PM/RSAT, PM/PMAT, NEA/I, EAP, AND EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ LH
SUBJECT: GOL DISINCLINED TO EMBED TROOPS IN IRAQI UNITS

REF: A. STATE 111082


B. VILNIUS 657

Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Alexander Titolo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) The GOL will likely not embed Lithuanian troops with
Iraqi forces as part of the shift of MNF-I's emphasis to
building Iraqi capacity (ref A). MOD Undersecretary Renatas
Norkus told us that the GOL believes that its soldiers lack
the necessary operational experience, language skills, and
cultural training for this mission. Chief of Defense Major
General Valdas Tutkus told us that he had had no objections
to embedding Lithuanian troops with Iraqis as trainers, but
that policymakers had decided against it.


2. (S) Comment: Norkus's apprehensions are widely shared
here. The MOD's Director of International Relations Alvydas
Kunigelis raised the same concern when the Ambassador first
broached this subject with MOD leadership in June (ref B). We
suspect the subtext of this message is that Lithuania's
leaders believe that embedding their troops in Iraqi units
would exposed them to higher risks than the duties they
currently perform - risks that would be political as well as
military. Their concern does not indicate a lessening of
their support for the Iraqi mission, but rather a preference
to retain its current role in Iraq.
MULL