COALITION PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 001181 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL IZ AS JA PL KS ES MD LO MK SUBJECT: COALITION PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS Classified By: DCM David Satterfield for reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Please see para 4 for an ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Five of the eight planned U.S.-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been staffed and have received initial training: three are fully operational, one is at initial operational capability (IOC) and expected to achieve full operational capability (FOC) in April, and one is pending approval to formally establish IOC. Two Coalition-led PRTs and the remaining three U.S. led PRTs are scheduled to open in April to May 2006. ¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY CONT'D: To ensure that each province has coverage by a PRT, we need to strengthen and expedite our efforts to obtain firm Coalition commitments. Post is engaging in ongoing discussions with Coalition partners in order to encourage their participation in supporting a PRT in each province (including Iraqi-led PRTs); however, additional support is required to engage our Coalition partners to commit resources to the PRTs. END SUMMARY. ¶4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests the Department's support in working with the Coalition capitals to gain these commitments. Recommended talking points are included in paras 12-18. When this is done, Post and MNF-I will work with embassies and Coalition partners to work out the details of support. END ACTION REQUEST. -------------- AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN -------------- ¶5. (C) Post's planning for Muthanna Province was to have an Iraqi PRT supported by the Italian PRT in Nasariyah (Dhi Qar). However, the Italians believe they will have their hands full with Dhi Qar and would welcome another Coalition partner supporting Muthanna. Post would like the Australians to host and support a PRT for Muthanna from Talil Air Base (AB). The location is based on the assumption that a small group of about 150 Australian soldiers will remain in Talil AB after the majority of the Australian contingent is withdrawn to Basrah. Post can make arrangements with Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) for billeting and messing of PRT staff at Talil but will look to the Australians to provide movement security and provide a Deputy Team Leader to the PRT. The USG would provide an Iraq Provincial Action Officer (IPAO),Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) Provincial Program Manager (PPM),Department of Justice Rule of Law officer, USAID officer, Team Leader, and Local Governance Program (LGP) staff. MNC-I could possibly provide a small (four to six person) Civil Affairs (CA) Operational Team. This staffing would allow a good start for supporting Muthanna and allow for a smoother transition to an Iraqi-led PRT over time. It also would demonstrate strong Coalition participation in the PRT program. ¶6. (C) Post recommends pressing the Japanese to provide an engineering officer to the proposed PRT Muthanna on the assumption that the Australians and the PRT will be based at Talil AB. Post also recommends that Japan provide one individual to the National Coordination Team (NCT) in Embassy Baghdad to manage Japanese project and loan expenditures. We believe this will provide the Japanese an excellent opportunity to continue to monitor their investment in Muthanna in partnership with the Australians while increasing Japan's participation in the NCT (which will enable them to more effectively allocate their remaining assistance funds). -------------- POLAND -------------- ¶7. (C) The Polish Ambassador has stated (although it has not been confirmed by Warsaw) that Poland is willing to support a PRT in Qadissiya. No agreement has been reached on the size of that support. Post would like the Poles to provide billeting and messing at Camp Echo; a Deputy Team Leader; a civil affairs unit; and movement security support. Post encourages the Poles to lead the PRT if they so desire. The USG is prepared to provide a Team Leader (or U.S. co-Deputy Team Leader if the Poles lead),an IPAO, IRMO PPM, USAID officer, engineer, and LGP team. Additionally, the PRT should be prepared to support an Iraqi-led PRT in Qadissiya, with the Poles supporting personnel dedicated to Wasit BAGHDAD 00001181 002 OF 004 Province at Camp Echo with billeting, messing, and movement security. -------------- EL SALVADOR -------------- ¶8. (C) We would like to see El Salvador support the PRT in Al Kut (Wasit). Their current contingent is approximately 350 persons and they are heavily engaged in civil affairs and reconstruction activities in the province. Presently, force protection requirements are provided to them by the Polish Coalition Forces (CF); however, Post understands that the Salvadorans may welcome opportunities to broaden their mission. The Salvadorans constitute the majority of the Coalition presence at Camp Delta in Al Kut. We may want to consider basing a Coalition-led PRT in Wasit in case the Poles decide against supporting a PRT in Qadissiya. At a minimum, we suggest that the Salvadorans provide a Deputy Team Leader, movement security, and a civil affairs element for the Wasit province effort from Camp Delta that can be integrated into the broader effort. -------------- KOREA -------------- ¶9. (C) Post hopes that the Koreans will sponsor/host a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) in Erbil, which would be responsible for the Kurdish Provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Dahuk. Post is asking the Koreans, at a minimum, to provide an area for housing, RRT work space, Deputy Team Leader, engineer, civil affairs unit, and movement security support within Erbil Province. We have encouraged the Koreans to provide a Team Leader but do not expect them to do so. If they opt to provide a Team Leader, we would adjust USG responsibility to have a USG co-Deputy Team Leader oversee the supporting offices in Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk. However, the simplest configuration would be a USG Team Leader with a Korean military deputy for Erbil and another USG deputy to cover the other two provinces. -------------- MOLDOVA/SLOVAKIA/MACEDONIA/OTHER -------------- ¶10. (C) Although we doubt that Moldova, Slovakia, Macedonia, and other members of the Coalition are willing to commit the size of force that could support or host a PRT, we can and should incorporate individual expertise in specific areas to help round out other PRTs. Functional areas in which we could use military or civilian expertise on other PRTs include: engineering officers, civil affairs specialists, public affairs officers, rule of law specialists, agricultural specialists, municipal/urban planning specialists, finance/budgeting specialists, economic development specialists, private sector development specialists, tourism specialists (especially in Erbil, Najaf, and Karbala),and civil administration specialists. -------------- TURKEY -------------- ¶11. (C) Post would like the Turks to participate in the PRT initiative by providing functional experts (military or civilian) to PRT Baghdad. Due to the extensive nature of capacity-building demands in Baghdad, the Turks' expertise and historical familiarity with the culture and business norms of the Arab world would be particularly beneficial. Functional areas in which Post could use military or civilian expertise on PRTs include: engineering officers, civil affairs specialists, public affairs officers, rule of law specialists, agricultural specialists, municipal/urban planners, finance/budgeting specialists, economic development officers, and private sector development specialists. Due to Baghdad's size and complexity, civil administration specialists would be especially valuable. -------------- Recommended Talking Points: -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Talking points for the Australians BAGHDAD 00001181 003 OF 004 -- We request that you support a PRT in Muthanna from Talil AB by providing movement security support and perhaps a deputy team leader. -- The USG is willing to provide several civilian specialists in addition to military civil affairs personnel to support the PRT. -- We are asking the Japanese to provide an engineer to support this PRT and to ensure continued oversight and coordination on the Japanese projects in Muthanna. -- Sufficient facilities exist at Talil AB to support PRT Muthanna and the Australian contingent. ¶13. (SBU) Talking points for the Japanese: -- It is important that you remain engaged on the ground in Iraq to support the management of its reconstruction investment there. -- Provision of a liaison officer to the National Coordination Team in Baghdad will allow you to establish and develop relationships with the central government of Iraq and other donor nations. -- The Australians are very interested in supporting a PRT with Japanese representation as they believe that your two countries have established a solid working relationship in Iraq. ¶14. (SBU) Talking points for the Republic of Korea: -- We invite the RoK to lead the RRT in Erbil based upon its strong performance in providing economic and job creation opportunities in Erbil. However, if you are unwilling to lead a PRT then you are welcome to provide a Deputy Team Leader. -- We are conscious of the limitations placed upon the your movement by the Korean National Assembly, which will not preclude their leadership of the RRT. For travel outside the immediate area, the American Deputy Team Leader would be responsible for Dohuk or Sulaymaniyah -- Current efforts by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) can be integrated into the PRT or remain separate, depending upon the wishes of the RoK. ¶15. (SBU) Talking points for Poland: -- We would welcome the Polish Government leading the PRT in Qadissiya and providing a civil affairs unit and support for movement security. -- If the Polish Government does not wish to lead a PRT, we would like you to provide a Deputy Team Leader and billeting and messing for the PRT at Camp Echo. -- The PRT offers an opportunity to re-mission your forces to focus more on capacity and economic development in addition to reconstruction efforts. -- The USG will provide additional specialists to fill gaps in capabilities that you may be unable to fill and also will provide support through the National Coordination Team in our Baghdad Embassy. ¶16. (SBU) Talking points for El Salvador: -- We would welcome your providing support to the PRT in Al Kut, Wasit. This is a natural extension to your engagement in civil affairs and reconstruction activities in the province. -- In particular we would be interested in your providing a Deputy Team Leader, movement security, and a civil affairs element to support engagement in Wasit Province. ¶17. (SBU) Talking points for Macedonia: -- We would like to know your interest in participating in the PRT initiative. -- We would welcome your providing individual team members to the PRTs, and you do not need to take on the leadership or BAGHDAD 00001181 004 OF 004 major support role. ¶18. (SBU) Talking points for Turkey: -- We welcome and encourage your participation in the PRT initiative and your desire to contribute to the security and stability of Iraq. -- We would encourage you to consider providing subject matter experts in civil administration for the Baghdad PRT. -- We would welcome additional specialists in engineering, civil affairs, public affairs, and agriculture, if available. KHALILZAD