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