Visiting PACOM Commander Admiral Fallon Makes Progress On

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000646 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PTER KPKO MG IZ PL SUBJECT: Visiting PACOM Commander Admiral Fallon Makes Progress On Mongolia's OIF Commitment; Observes Khaan Quest PKO Exercise SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) PACOM Commander Admiral William J. Fallon paid his first visit to Mongolia, August 19-21, at the invitation of Mongolian Chief of the General Staff LTG Togoo. The Admiral's observation of Mongolia's first-ever multinational peacekeeping training exercise, Khaan Quest 06, and joint press conference with LTG Togoo, served to underscore the importance the U.S. places on developing the peace support capabilities of countries in the region. In his meetings with the Minister of Defense and Prime Minister -- and in a telephone call with the vacationing President -- Admiral Fallon urged Mongolia to continue its commitment to OIF and to send a full 100-man contingent of peacekeepers in Mongolia's 7th rotation to Iraq. The Admiral hand delivered a letter from SECDEF Rumsfeld to DEFMIN Sonompil and responded positively to the Mongolian request for new armored vehicles and machine guns to better protect its troops in Iraq. END SUMMARY. Comment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) While too early to judge the outcome of the NSC meeting later this month, during Admiral Fallon's meetings we sensed a shift in the government's approach. We suspect that the Prime Minister is under pressure from the President (and possibly the Speaker, who has been a strong supporter of Mongolia's OIF commitment) to reverse his July 7 decision and field a full 7th rotation. The President's foreign affairs adviser has told us that the Prime Minister is looking for a face-saving way to reverse the decision. By addressing concerns about the safety and security of Mongolian troops at Camp Echo, the provision by the USG of new armored vehicles and machine guns may provide the Government with a face-saving excuse for reversing its earlier decision to drastically reduce Mongolia's OIF contingent. End comment. Admiral Fallon Visits Mongolia August 19-21 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) PACOM Commander Admiral Fallon visited Mongolia August 19-21 to meet with Mongolian officials, encourage Mongolia's continued support for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF),and to observe the Mongolian-U.S. co-hosted Khaan Quest 06 multinational peacekeeping exercise at Five Hills Training Center. He met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Chief of the General Staff Togoo and spoke with President Enkhbayar by phone. Admiral Fallon also exchanged views over lunch with Members of Mongolia's Parliament and visited a U.S. military-supported civil affairs project. Chief of Staff Togoo Outlines "Wish List" -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Upon arrival the afternoon of August 19, Admiral Fallon called on Mongolian Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Ts. Togoo. Togoo said that the National Security Council (NSC) had not yet made a final decision on whether to uphold or reverse the July 7 Cabinet recommendation to reduce substantially the size of its peacekeeping contingent in Iraq, from 100 men to "a few officers." He indicated that the NSC would make its decision before the end of August. Togoo also revealed that, contrary to earlier assertions, there were, in fact, enough troops (with previous service in OIF) to field a full 100-man 7th rotation in September. Further in earnest, he stated that pre-deployment training would begin after the 8/24 conclusion of KQ 06, even in the absence of a decision by the NSC. ¶5. (SBU) LTG Togoo reviewed areas for cooperation and requests for assistance, including: 1) regularization of the Khaan Quest exercise, 2) establishment of a Mongolian liaison officer billet at PACOM, 3) acceleration of Mongolia's Defense Reform (i.e., accelerate USG funding and technical assistance support),4) increased number of officer training slots, 5) ditto for NCO training slots as well as additional support for the NCO training program in Mongolia, 6) continued support for the upgrade of the Five Hills PKO training center as well as for increased international attendance, and 7) support for Military Hospital Modernization, as President Enkhbayar had requested during his September, 2005 visit to PACOM. Finally, Togoo reaffirmed an August 18 formal written request forwarded by the Ministry of Defense to the Embassy, for new force protection equipment for Mongolia's OIF contingent, including HMVVs and heavier weapons to replace the out-dated and worn Russian equipment currently being used. ¶6. (SBU) Admiral Fallon took note of Togoo's first seven requests and responded positively to the request for new force protection equipment for the OIF contingent. (Note: Subsequently, Admiral Fallon was able to discuss the request directly with General Casey in Baghdad, who endorsed it. Embassy/DAO is working with Ministry of Defense officials to complete the required equipment request forms, with the expectation and understanding that the requested equipment would be available in September in Iraq, should Mongolia decide to send a full contingent of peacekeepers. End Note.) Defense Minister Avers Mongolian Commitment to OIF -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In the morning of August 21, Admiral Fallon met with Minister of Defense Sonompil. The Admiral handed over a letter from Secretary Rumsfeld and conveyed the Secretary's greetings. He urged SIPDIS the Minister to support the 7th rotation deployment of a full contingent of troops to Iraq. Admiral Fallon noted Mongolian concerns, raised earlier by LTG Togoo, over the safety and security of its contingent in Iraq. He stated that he supported the request for new machine-gun equipped armored vehicles and heavier weapons (machine guns) and had discussed the Mongolian request with General Casey in Baghdad, gaining the support of the latter. ¶8. (SBU) In his response, Minister of Defense Sonompil stated that Mongolia remained committed to its role in Iraq. "Having made the commitment, Mongolia would remain until the end," Sonompil said. He averred, however, that the "political opposition" in parliament has raised questions about the government's ability to ensure the safety and security of the troops in Iraq. "Given the worsening situation in Iraq, the Cabinet had decided on July 7 to not withdraw but to reduce the size of its contingent to "a few well-trained officers." The NSC, however, would make the final decision. Sonompil said he was pleased to hear the positive response to Mongolia's request for new force protection equipment for its troops in Iraq and that he would report this news to the NSC, noting that "this will be important to persuading the NSC" to approve a full contingent of troops. (Comment: We strongly suspect that Sonompil is responsible in large part for the decision to reduce substantially Mongolia's commitment to the OIF. He and other members of his political faction/party -- a four MP breakaway group from the Democratic Party -- have opposed deployment to Iraq from the beginning. He is being disingenuous when he blames the "opposition" for forcing this decision to partially withdraw. In fact, the "opposition" Democratic Party has been a stalwart supporter of OIF and OEF. During Cabinet discussions of the 5th and 6th rotations, then Prime Minister Elbegdorj argued against those -- such as Amb. Bold in Washington -- who wanted to pull back from Iraq. End Comment.) Prime Minister Says NSC Will Decide -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In his subsequent meeting with the Prime Minister (also attended by Minister Sonompil),Admiral Fallon noted that he had delivered a letter from Secretary Rumsfeld and urged that Mongolia continue its commitment to Iraq and deploy another (7th) platoon-sized rotation. He noted the positive response to Mongolia's request for new armored vehicles and machine guns and expressed the hope that this would weigh favorably in the NSC's decision. ¶10. (SBU) Enkhbold stated his support for Mongolia's continued participation in OIF. He said that the Cabinet had taken the July 7 decision to send a "certain number of troops" to Iraq. Based on consideration of proposals submitted by the MOD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),the NSC would now discuss the matter and decide. "If necessary," he continued, "the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs and defense might have hold a hearing." President States Support for Full 7th Rotation -------------- - ¶11. (SBU) Admiral Fallon subsequently took a phone call from President Enkhbayar, who is vacationing in a remote northern province. The Admiral repeated USG concerns about Mongolia's intentions in Iraq, noted the USG's positive response to Mongolia's request for protective equipment, and urged that Mongolia send a full rotation to Iraq. The President expressed his support for a full commitment and promised to work with the other members of the NSC in an effort to make this happen. ¶12. (U) Admiral Fallon has cleared this cable. SLUTZ