Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD511
2006-02-18 13:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL

Tags:  MOPS PBTS ASEC EAIR SMIG PARM IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1990
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #0511/01 0491332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181332Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2771
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000511 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO DHS HQ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PBTS ASEC EAIR SMIG PARM PBTS IZ
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL
REQUIREMENTS FOR CY 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000511

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO DHS HQ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PBTS ASEC EAIR SMIG PARM PBTS IZ
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL
REQUIREMENTS FOR CY 2006


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Multi-National Security Transition
Command Iraq (MNSTC-I) and U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Attache and Country Director
have agreed to submit the following request for DHS
specialists to assist the GOI in controlling its
borders and ports of entry (POEs) for CY 2006. END
SUMMARY.

--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------


2. (SBU) Continued support of the Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) mission in Iraq from DHS remains a
critical component of the Iraq border enforcement
initiative. There are 23 POEs -- 14 land (two of
which are closed),five air, and four sea. There is
also a General Directorate Headquarters located in
Baghdad that requires training and staff support from
DHS specialists.


3. (SBU) Two senior DHS leaders are working in the
Embassy and, until recently, four 4-person teams
(formerly known as Border Support Teams, or BSTs) from
CBP were providing invaluable support at the following
POEs: Trebil, Waleed, Rabea, and Baghdad International
Airport (BIAP). These teams historically have rotated
every 90 days. During the period from November 29,
2005, to January 6, 2006, there were 5 CBP team
members who remained in Iraq, assigned to the BIAP,
Trebil, Al Waleed, and Rabiah Ports of Entry. Full
DHS CBP teams started the current 90-day rotations in
early January 2006.

--------------
CY 2006 REQUIREMENTS DEFINED
--------------


4. (SBU) LAND POE REQUIREMENTS: Three CBP teams, each
comprising 4 specialists with skill sets that include
primary/secondary customs and immigration inspections
of vehicles and persons; examination and processing of
commercial vehicles and cargo; and the collection of
customs duties and fees. Additional border
enforcement skill sets may be useful within the team,
but should not preclude the primary skill sets
requested. Each team should include a subject-matter

expert in visas, passport control, and detecting
fraudulent travel documents. These individuals will
train, coach, and mentor POE personnel at POEs to
facilitate the transfer of POE operations to complete
Iraqi control. Teams will be assigned to specific
border areas and work with Multi-National Corps-Iraq
(MNC-I).


5. (SBU) AIR POE REQUIREMENTS: One CBP team composed
of 2 specialists with experience in international
airport operations, passenger processing, immigration
and customs processing and inspections, cargo
examination, and aircraft inspections. The team should
include a subject matter expert in visas, passport
control, and detecting fraudulent travel documents.
These specialists will train Iraqi personnel in
primary and secondary inspection techniques, to
include interviewing skills and the use of databases
to query suspected travelers at the international
airports within Iraq.


6. (SBU) NATIONAL OR REGIONAL ACADEMIES: One 2-person
CBP team assigned to an academy. The team will
conduct train-the-trainer courses (T3) and provide
oversight of Iraqi instructors and courses to include
POE basic and advanced individual training and junior
and mid-level leadership training. Additionally, the
team will assist in curriculum development and course
instruction for other critical POE tasks. The team
will initially be assigned to the Basrah Academy.


7. (SBU) CPATT PLANNERS: One 2-person DHS team
assigned to Civilian Police Assistance Training Teams
(CPATT) Headquarters. The team requires extensive
experience in working POE-related joint interagency
operations. This team requires experience in port
operations and management, policy development,
identifying complex issues, developing solutions,

BAGHDAD 00000511 002 OF 003


briefing recommended solutions to senior leaders, and
implementing the senior leader decisions. The team
requires expertise primarily in sea and land POEs.
The team members will be expected to visit Iraqi ports
of entry as required, and in conjunction with CPATT
leader assessment visits. The team will assist in
assessing the ports, developing plans for the port way
ahead, and assisting in implementing the way ahead
plans. The CBP team members may be expected to visit
the Directorate of Border Enforcement (DBE) and POE
Academies to assist in the development and
implementation of instruction.


8. (SBU) COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS: To support unity of
command, the CBP Teams will be ADCON to the DHS
Country Director, and may be detailed out or assigned
as OPCON to MNSTC-I and on order TACON to selected
MNC-I Multinational Divisions (MND) for specific
missions or time periods. The command relationship
agreement will be defined in detail in a future MNSTC-
I / DHS Memorandum of Understanding that is currently
being staffed between the two commands.

--------------
SPECIFIC CY 2006 REQUIREMENTS
--------------


9. (SBU) Requirements for CY 2006: 18 total positions.
Request DHS ensure total number of specialists in
country remains constant at all times. A separate
memorandum of understanding is being staffed at this
time outlining specific tasks and command and control
relations for the teams. In accordance with that MOD,
teams could be re-missioned based on critical needs.
For the January 2006 start point the teams will be
staffed and positioned as specified below:

-- 12 positions for land POEs: (three 4-person teams,
one each TACON to MND-W and MND-N, to provide coverage
to the Syrian, Jordanian, and Iranian borders in
coordination with MND operations; and one TACON to
MND-SE and, on order, MND-CS, to provide coverage to
the Iranian border;

-- 2 positions for air POEs: (one 2-person team to
provide coverage at BIAP, with possible rotations to
other international airports as necessary);

-- 2 positions for academies: (one 2-person team to
assist in program of instruction development and
instruction at an academy, with possible future
rotations to the other two Regional Academies as
necessary);

-- 2 positions for CPATT headquarters: (one 2-person
team to provide POE expertise for land and sea POEs at
CPATT HQ. This team will complete at a minimum a 120-
day rotation).

--------------
FUNDING
--------------


10. (SBU) MNSTC-I currently provides funding for 16
CBP positions covering the next two rotations: January
9 to April 9 and April 9 to July 9, 2006. MNSTC-I
requires a detailed accounting of all expenses that
are covered by the MNSTC-I funding no later than the
end date of each 90-day rotation. Next rotation end
date is April 9, 2006. The current funding provided to
DHS includes the two additional positions in support
of CPATT HQ which have yet to be filled. MNSTC-I
understands that DHS will recruit these two
individuals and deploy them to MNSTC-I as soon as
possible. MNSTC-I does not provide funding for any DHS
positions in support of the U.S. Embassy and its
mission.

--------------
FUTURE REQUIREMENTS
--------------


11. (SBU) The above are validated requirements for
DHS support through June 2006. No later than March
10, MNSTC-I will determine if this initiative needs to

BAGHDAD 00000511 003 OF 003


continue beyond June. If so, a subsequent DHS support
and funding request will be provided at that time to
continue the force rotation.

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DESIRED OUTCOME
--------------


12. (SBU) The desired outcome of this initiative is
POEs that are "able to disrupt cross-border support to
insurgents and terrorists with no support from
coalition forces transition teams and enablers
resulting in the reduced flow of foreign fighters and
enemy financial resources crossing the Syrian border"
(Annex C to MNSTC-I FRAGO 05-115). Meanwhile, POEs are
internally synchronized with realistic administrative
procedures, operating procedures that conform to the
law, technology, adequate organizational structure,
trained and equipped manpower, and modem facilities. A
sustainable national training system is in place that
supports the professionalism of POE management and
leadership.

--------------
CONCLUSION
--------------


13. (SBU) DHS personnel are valuable partners to MNF-I
as the Iraqi government accomplishes the difficult
tasks of refining customs and immigration laws,
developing policies and procedures, and building
capabilities in an undeveloped part of its government
apparatus.

KHALILZAD