Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL2285
2006-05-20 07:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

OPTIONS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Tags:  ECON EAID ELTN AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1816
RR RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #2285/01 1400750
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200750Z MAY 06 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0324
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1909
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2553
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5963
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1375
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC 0069
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002285 

SIPDIS

C O R E C T E D C O P Y - TEXT THROUGHOUT

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EB/TRA
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, AMEND
CJTF-76 FOR POLAD, CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A
TREASURY FOR PARAMESWARAN
COMMERCE FOR AADLER
TRANSPORTATION FOR MODESITT

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID ELTN AF
SUBJECT: OPTIONS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ASSISTANCE ON JAPANESE PORTION OF RING ROAD

REF: A) KABUL 0379, (B) TOKYO 2570

KABUL 00002285 001.2 OF 002


-------
Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002285

SIPDIS

C O R E C T E D C O P Y - TEXT THROUGHOUT

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EB/TRA
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, AMEND
CJTF-76 FOR POLAD, CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A
TREASURY FOR PARAMESWARAN
COMMERCE FOR AADLER
TRANSPORTATION FOR MODESITT

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAID ELTN AF
SUBJECT: OPTIONS FOR US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ASSISTANCE ON JAPANESE PORTION OF RING ROAD

REF: A) KABUL 0379, (B) TOKYO 2570

KABUL 00002285 001.2 OF 002


--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Officials from the Japanese Embassy in Kabul are
anxious to restart work on their portion of the Ring Road
between Kandahar and Herat as soon as possible. The Japanese
Government is considering all options, including recontracting
the work to a non-Japanese contractor. The US Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE) offered to assist as a construction agent for
the Japanese government, keeping the focus clearly on the
Japanese assistance to Afghanistan and not on USACE's role in
the project. Japanese Embassy officials were interested in the
offer, but noted that Tokyo would make the final decision.
End Summary.

--------------
Japanese Considering Three Options
--------------


2. (SBU) On May 18, Japanese Embassy officials discussed
options for resuming work on their portion of the Ring Road
between Kandahar and Herat with Embassy, AID, CFC-A and
USACE officials. DCM Moto Kato, Japan International Cooperation
System (JICS) Representative Toru Takagi, and Defense Attache
LTC Hiroshi Shimohata attended for the Japanese. Kato
noted that the project is a commitment between JICS
and the Afghan Ministry of Public Works (MPW). Two
Japanese companies subcontract the work from JICS, one
for consulting (design) and the other for
construction. Kato stated that the Japanese were very
anxious to move the project forward and that Tokyo is
currently considering three options.

-- First option: Find a way to continue road work with the
two contractors already engaged.
-- Second option: Keep the Japanese consulting company, but
hire another (non-Japanese) company for the construction.
-- Third option: Hire outside companies for both aspects of
the project.

-------------- --
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Proposes Solutions
-------------- --


3. (SBU) USACE described how they could assist as a

construction agent for the Japanese government,
keeping the focus clearly on the Japanese assistance
to Afghanistan and not on USACE's role in the project.
USACE noted that they could handle the entire project,
including contracting the work and providing program
management and quality control services. This would
be the ideal and most efficient method for the Corps, plus
it would ensure security was an inherent part of the
contract work from the construction camps outward.
Alternatively, USACE could play a more limited role,
for instance providing program management for JICS'
existing construction contract. USACE emphasized that
security services should be included in the
construction contract(s),but noted that USACE can
play a crucial role by ensuring that contractors live
up to their security commitments and by liaising with the
local PRTs and local Afghan National Army and Police
units to let them know that they are working in their
region. USACE emphasized that they were achieving
success on other road projects in Afghanistan by
hiring local firms, and suggested this may be a viable
course of action for whomever executed the work.


4. (SBU) Kato asked if USACE could provide security
services only. USACE responded that they can provide
security advisory services, but that they do not
provide protective services. USACE noted that their
program management services include evaluating and
monitoring contractor-provided security to meet USACE
standards, and that this would provide more security
than simply engaging USACE in an advisory role. USACE
stressed that no US soldiers would be available for
assignment as security to this project in any
scenario. USACE noted that if they let out a new
contract for road segment, work could begin as early
as mid-August. If USACE were to provide project
management services for the existing construction
contract, the timetable for restarting construction
would largely depend on the existing contractor.


5. (SBU) Kato was appreciative of USACE's willingness
to take on the project and committed to pass this
information back to Tokyo. USACE, in turn, agreed to
provide a written proposal to the Japanese Embassy

KABUL 00002285 002.2 OF 002


outlining how USACE could work with JICS.


6. (SBU) Comment: The Japanese are fully aware of
the strategic importance of moving forward quickly on
the Kandahar-Herat road (despite the fact they
halted further work on the project last February)
and are also anxious to keep a Japanese face on the
project. The Japanese were pleased with USACE's assurances
that their involvement would be transparent, keeping
the focus on Japanese assistance. The Japanese Embassy
made it clear that the final decision would be made
in Tokyo. End comment.

NORLAND