IRAQ: GOJ REQUESTS SECURITY ASSESSMENT; U.S.

S E C R E T TOKYO 001492 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016 TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ UK JA SUBJECT: IRAQ: GOJ REQUESTS SECURITY ASSESSMENT; U.S. RESPONSE IF U.K. WITHDRAWS IN MAY REF: TOKYO 0757 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (U) This is an urgent action request. Please see last paragraph. ¶2. (S) Summary: As input to GOJ decision on when to withdraw SDF from Iraq, Assistant Cabinet Secretary Ando asked DCM March 22 for an updated security assessment of the situation in Iraq and for an explanation of what the U.S. response would be should the UK withdraw as announced by the end of May. DCM undertook to provide responses by Friday, March 24 Tokyo time, and urged that Japan keep SDF in Iraq for as long as possible. End Summary. ¶3. (S) At lunch on March 22 with DCM Donovan, Assistant Cabinet Secretary Ando noted that Japan had said it would decide how long to keep the SDF in Iraq based on three considerations: political, including the founding of a new government; the security situation and the degree of transfer of responsibility to Iraqis; and, the decisions on continued participation by the multilateral force, in particular, the U.S., UK and Australia. Ando noted that the UK had not yet changed its decision to withdraw by the end of May, but that the U.S. had urged a cautious approach of not having predetermined withdrawal dates. With the three GOJ criteria in mind, in order to help the GOJ decide about the date of SDF withdrawal, Ando asked for an update on U.S. views of the security situation in Iraq and how the U.S. would respond if the UK did withdraw by the end of May. ¶4. (S) In response, DCM noted that the U.S. wanted the GOJ to stay as long as possible and that Australia's decision to extend their deployment was positive for the security situation. DCM said that he would convey Ando's questions to Washington and request a more detailed response by March 23. ¶5. (S) Action Requested: Please provide by Friday, March 23, Tokyo time, our latest assessment of the security situation in Iraq and our planned response should UK withdraw by the end of May. SCHIEFFER