IRAQ: GUIOANCE FOR U.S.-POLAND BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 141362 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2031 TAGS: ASEC MARR MOPS PREL IZ PL SUBJECT: IRAQ: GUIOANCE FOR U.S.-POLAND BILATERAL REF: (A)WARSAW 862, (B)WARSAW 833, (C)BAGHDAD 1290 STATE 00141362 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY NEA DAS, L. Victor Hurtado, Acting. REASONS 1.4. (A),(B),AND (D) ¶1. (C) Department instructs a delegation led by Deputy S/I Barbara Stephenson to participate in bilateral talks with Poland on August 31 in Warsaw to discuss Poland's leadership of the Multinational Division - Center South (MND-CS) in Iraq. The purpose of the talks is to convey the outlines of the USG and MNF-I desired posture for Polish troops in Iraq in 2007, consult on the composition of that posture and means to achieve it, and to provide an overview of the U.S. strategy for victory in Iraq with emphasis on the value of Poland's contribution to that goal. Background -------------- ¶2. (C) Poland's contributions to Iraq are significant in that it commands one of the three internationally led divisions, in addition to the UK in the south and the South Koreans in the north. Poland is committed to its deployment of 900 troops until January 2007 (REP A) despite doubts that Defense Minister Sikorski raised last spring by suqqestinq a reduction by half and closing one of two camps mid-2006 (REP B). ¶3. (C) This visit is also timed to address key Iraq- related issues prior to the visit of Polish PM Kaczynski to Washinqton in mid-September, and to shape Polish expectations for the MNF-I Coalition conference in Warsaw the first week of October. INSTRUCTIONS -------------- ¶4. (C) Department instructs a delegation led by Deputy S/I Barbara Stephenson and includinq, among others, a general/flag officer from CENTCOM, to gain as firm as possible a commitment from Poland to extend its presence in Iraq through 2007 at existing force levels. State Deft representatives should provide an overview of Iraq political and economic developments, includinq but not limited to the viability of Maliki's unity government, UN Security Council resolution mandate for 2007, and the outlook for Iraq's reconstruction. Department of Defense representatives should provide an overview of military factors affecting Iraq's security and stability includinq, but not limited to: training and readiness of the Iraq Security Forces, threat of the Sunni insurqency, and the threat of sectarian violence includinq militias. ¶5. (C) On the relative importance of Poland's two camps in Wasit (Camp Delta) and Al Qadisiyah (Camp Echo),the delegation should emphasize the following points: --We need Poland to continue its leadership role in MND- CS, particularly maintaining the command structure of MNO- CS. --Other contributors to MND-CS will look to Poland in deciding their own future contributions. --We need Poland to stay the course in Iraq. Any change in force levels needs to be based on the actual security situation on the ground. --MNF-I, looking through 2007, has requested that Poland retain two-star-level command of MND-CS, continue loqistic support and Quick Reaction Forces capability for MND-CS, and that MNO-CS maintain operations at both Camp Delta and Camp Echo to facilitate Coalition operations in the area. --NATO needs to increase the pace of training in Iraq and we would encourage Poland to continue to support this effort. ¶6. (C) Deleqation should outline steps USG has taken to keep Polish sector contributors Slovakia and Monqolia in Iraq, and solicit Poland's views on next steps, includinq options in the event of Slovakian/Monqolian withdrawal. ¶7. (C) Contrary to earlier views on Polish leadership of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (REP C),the Department is for now not actively seeking Polish leadership. In light of administrative and organizational challenges involved STATE 00141362 002.2 OF 002 in internationally-led PAts, combined with the unlikely prospect of U.S. financial assistance to Poland for this effort, Department instructs the delegation to focus on the more widely agreed core equity of Poland's military contribution to Iraq's security and stability. RICE