Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL875
2006-03-01 15:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
PRT/LASHKAR GAH - CITIZENS SEE BOOTS ON THE
how-toVZCZCXRO3665 PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #0875 0601547 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011547Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8595 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//JF/UNMA// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3// RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2286 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2493 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5621 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1127
UNCLAS KABUL 000875
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/FO, SA/A, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM,
EUR/UBI
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT/LASHKAR GAH - CITIZENS SEE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND
UNCLAS KABUL 000875
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/FO, SA/A, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM,
EUR/UBI
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT/LASHKAR GAH - CITIZENS SEE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND
1. (SBU) As the PRT continues its transition to the
UK, an advance group of British soldiers has begun
dismounted patrols in Helmand Province's capital,
Lashkar Gah. Early indications appear positive. Up
to the arrival of the UK troops, there have been no
such patrols, as US forces use mounted patrols as
their standard operating procedure.
2. (SBU) UK officers view dismounted patrols as a
key component to improving security in the area.
According to the officers, when citizens see
soldiers on foot and interacting with local
merchants and inhabitants, it mitigates risk and
should lead to better overall knowledge of the area
of operations. They said that dismounted patrols
will be a regular feature of the UK deployment.
3. (SBU) PRT POLOFF accompanied a UK dismounted
patrol on February 14. Despite language barriers,
soldiers interacted comfortably with local people.
Young people, especially, were very anxious to
interact with the troops and try out their English.
Several teenagers spoke English fairly well. PRToff
and soldiers exchanged greetings with numerous
shopkeepers and others encountered along the route.
Quite a few young people asked to have their photos
taken.
4. (SBU) Several citizens said that they were happy
to see the UK troops. Some told us that they had
heard reports on local radio and television that
there would be 3,000 troops eventually deployed in
the province. As we have heard in many other fora,
security is a major concern of most citizens.
Soldiers, quite a few of whom are veterans of other
stability operations, said that they also enjoyed
interacting with local citizens. A couple of times,
the soldiers helped out citizens - in one case,
righting a load that had fallen off a bicycle.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Based on the first few patrols,
dismounted patrols appear to be a positive
development in facilitating relations between the
Coalition and local people. A foot patrol through
town is likely to make citizens feel more secure and
foster improved familiarity between the Coalition
and the people. END COMMENT.
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA/FO, SA/A, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM,
EUR/UBI
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PTER AF
SUBJECT: PRT/LASHKAR GAH - CITIZENS SEE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND
1. (SBU) As the PRT continues its transition to the
UK, an advance group of British soldiers has begun
dismounted patrols in Helmand Province's capital,
Lashkar Gah. Early indications appear positive. Up
to the arrival of the UK troops, there have been no
such patrols, as US forces use mounted patrols as
their standard operating procedure.
2. (SBU) UK officers view dismounted patrols as a
key component to improving security in the area.
According to the officers, when citizens see
soldiers on foot and interacting with local
merchants and inhabitants, it mitigates risk and
should lead to better overall knowledge of the area
of operations. They said that dismounted patrols
will be a regular feature of the UK deployment.
3. (SBU) PRT POLOFF accompanied a UK dismounted
patrol on February 14. Despite language barriers,
soldiers interacted comfortably with local people.
Young people, especially, were very anxious to
interact with the troops and try out their English.
Several teenagers spoke English fairly well. PRToff
and soldiers exchanged greetings with numerous
shopkeepers and others encountered along the route.
Quite a few young people asked to have their photos
taken.
4. (SBU) Several citizens said that they were happy
to see the UK troops. Some told us that they had
heard reports on local radio and television that
there would be 3,000 troops eventually deployed in
the province. As we have heard in many other fora,
security is a major concern of most citizens.
Soldiers, quite a few of whom are veterans of other
stability operations, said that they also enjoyed
interacting with local citizens. A couple of times,
the soldiers helped out citizens - in one case,
righting a load that had fallen off a bicycle.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Based on the first few patrols,
dismounted patrols appear to be a positive
development in facilitating relations between the
Coalition and local people. A foot patrol through
town is likely to make citizens feel more secure and
foster improved familiarity between the Coalition
and the people. END COMMENT.
NEUMANN