EMBASSY KABUL INTENTION TO ISSUE PROVISIONAL LEAHY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 005925

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/RA (JBRENNIG),SCA/A, DRL, INL/CNPR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016
TAGS: PHUM SNAR PINR PTER AF
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KABUL INTENTION TO ISSUE PROVISIONAL LEAHY
CLEARANCES

REF: A. A. KABUL 4407


B. B. KABUL 4774

C. C. KABUL 5275

D. D. KABUL 5776

E. E. KABUL 5908

F. F. STATE 201184

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Richard Norland, for reasons 1.
6 (B),(D).


1. (C) Summary: There are clear indications that the Taliban
will launch a well-coordinated offensive in the spring that
will focus on gaining decisive control of districts with
insufficient presence of Afghan National Security Forces
(ANSF) and international forces. In order to increase the
ANSF presence in these key areas, it is vital that we move
ahead urgently with Afghan National Police (ANP) senior
leadership positions. The following proposal offers a way to
expedite this critical process. End summary.


2. (SBU) As part of the vetting process, Post has submitted
several cables (refs a-e) requesting expedited Leahy vetting
for ANP generals and field grade officers to be assigned to
key leadership positions particularly in the south and east
of Afghanistan. We expect to submit more such requests in
coming weeks.


3. (SBU) Since Leahy vetting for ANP forces commenced last
spring, Post has brought its actions into compliance with
Department guidelines by establishing a standard by which the
names of all Afghan security forces recommended for
U.S.-funded training are subject to a vetting process before
being submitted to the Department. In particular, we
diligently vet ANP personnel through the United Nations
Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). UNAMA has an
established and reputable information network throughout the
country, including provincial, district and local levels,
that conducts extensive investigations of Afghan security
personnel for human rights violations as well as corruption
issues. In addition, all relevant offices within the Embassy
that maintain databases doublecheck the list, in order to
corroborate derogatory information. This procedure is
followed for every list of names before we submit it to the
Department. Based on responses to date, there appears to be
an extremely low rejection rate from Washington for
individuals who have been cleared through in-country vetting.
As we move further down the ranks, we expect the rejection
rate to go still lower.


4. (C) It is essential for human rights vetting to be
completed in a timely manner due to the pressing need for
qualified personnel to be placed in critical leadership
positions. Delays in this process hinder our ability to put
in place the individuals best qualified to counter a growing
insurgency.


5. (SBU) In this regard, Post notes the significant delays
that have been incurred in several submissions to date. In
particular, no responses have been received for ref a (eight
general officers, sent September 27) and ref c (six general
officers, sent October 30). We received a response (ref f) to
ref b (five general officers, sent October 3) on December 21.
(Note: Ref d, a list of 19 field grade officers, was sent
December 11 with a two week suspense; we have been informed
that Department's response will be sent December 28. We
appreciate the timely action taken on this request. Ref e,
sent December 21, is a list of 67 ANP Colonels; we have
requested a response by January 6 to take into account the
Christmas holiday. End Note.)


6. (C) In addition, Post expects to send a list within days
of approximately two hundred fifty names of Lieutenant
Colonels, and a list of several hundred Majors in mid-January

2007. We are concerned that the Department's delay in
clearing these personnel, and those mentioned above, will
have a seriously negative impact on the security situation in
the threatened provinces and districts to which they will be
assigned, given the anticipated Taliban offensive this spring.


7. (SBU) Therefore, unless instructed otherwise by cable,
Post intends as of December 29 to issue provisional Leahy
clearances to ANP officers proposed for assignment in the
south and east whose names have been fully vetted by UNAMA
and relevant Embassy offices if we have not received a
determination within 10 business days of vetting request
cable submission (or within the requested suspense time,
whichever is longer). We will continue to develop additional
information on these individuals and welcome Washington input
at any time; should persons be appointed and subsequent
derogatory information is discovered, we will immediately
work with the MOI to have these people removed from their

assignments.


8. (U) Post deeply appreciates the efforts and support of
Department offices, particularly SCA/RA and DRL, in this
difficult, complex, and time-consuming task of vetting the
ANP.
NORLAND