Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA293
2007-02-22 03:35:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN PLANS TO INCREASE FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 000293
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND SA
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN PLANS TO INCREASE FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr., for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 000293
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND SA
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN PLANS TO INCREASE FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr., for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (S/NF) The Government of Australia, concerned about the
upcoming Taliban offensive and worried that Dutch
preparations to counter the expected Taliban offensive in
southern Afghanistan are not robust enough, are making
preliminary plans to deploy an additional 250 Australian
Defence Force (ADF) personnel, including Special Air Service
(SAS) Regiment forces, to Oruzgan Povince for an extended
period. Under the plan, which has not yet been approved by
the Cabinet, the additional troops would remain under
NATO/ISAF command but adapt a command and control structure
used by U.S. forces. Although the opposition opposed the
Government's decision to send additional trainers to Iraq,
the opposition leader is likely to support plans to
strengthen Australia's presence in Afghanistan. End summary.
2. (S/NF) The National Security Committee of Cabinet of
Australia has approved in principle planning for deployment
of approximately 250 ADF personnel to Oruzgan Province in
southern Afghanistan to supplement the 550-strong force
currently working under a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT.) The Cabinet will make a final decision by the
end of March.
3. (S/NF) The impetus for the plan is sensitive reporting
predicting an increase in Taliban activity, including suicide
bombings and large-scale attacks, over the coming months. It
CANBERRA 00000293 002 OF 003
also stems from GOA concern that the Dutch military
leadership of the PRT is not responding aggressively enough
to the expected offensive, according to senior ADOD officials.
4. (S/NF) Senior ADOD personnel have told Embassy officials
that they want to have the additional ADF forces use a
command and control structure already in use with Combined
Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF),rather than the
current arrangement with the NATO/ISAF command. Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Pace recommended this arrangement
during his February 12 meeting with Chief of the Australian
Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. ADOD
officials told us the timeframe for deployment would likely
be early May 2007. The forces would likely remain in
Afghanistan for more than one rotation, that is, beyond
August 2008, the theoretical end of their two-year
commitment. ADOD plans to send a small reconnaisance mission
into Orugan Province on/about February 26. Defence Minister
Nelson briefed Secretary Gates on the GOA plan recently.
OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORT
--------------
5. (S/NF) Opposition Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd
called the Ambassador on February 21 to inquire about the GOA
action and whether it would be a point of discussion during
Rudd's scheduled meeting with Vice President Cheney on
February 23. He complained that the Howard government was
not observing the usual practice of informing the opposition
party in advance of its plans, and thus he was concerned that
he might be caught off guard by the press and unable to
respond as effectively as he would like in campaign mode. He
CANBERRA 00000293 003 OF 003
continued to express Labor's continued support in general for
military involvement by Australia in Afghanistan, in stark
contrast to Labor's position on Iraq.
MCCALLUM
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND SA
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN PLANS TO INCREASE FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr., for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (S/NF) The Government of Australia, concerned about the
upcoming Taliban offensive and worried that Dutch
preparations to counter the expected Taliban offensive in
southern Afghanistan are not robust enough, are making
preliminary plans to deploy an additional 250 Australian
Defence Force (ADF) personnel, including Special Air Service
(SAS) Regiment forces, to Oruzgan Povince for an extended
period. Under the plan, which has not yet been approved by
the Cabinet, the additional troops would remain under
NATO/ISAF command but adapt a command and control structure
used by U.S. forces. Although the opposition opposed the
Government's decision to send additional trainers to Iraq,
the opposition leader is likely to support plans to
strengthen Australia's presence in Afghanistan. End summary.
2. (S/NF) The National Security Committee of Cabinet of
Australia has approved in principle planning for deployment
of approximately 250 ADF personnel to Oruzgan Province in
southern Afghanistan to supplement the 550-strong force
currently working under a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction
Team (PRT.) The Cabinet will make a final decision by the
end of March.
3. (S/NF) The impetus for the plan is sensitive reporting
predicting an increase in Taliban activity, including suicide
bombings and large-scale attacks, over the coming months. It
CANBERRA 00000293 002 OF 003
also stems from GOA concern that the Dutch military
leadership of the PRT is not responding aggressively enough
to the expected offensive, according to senior ADOD officials.
4. (S/NF) Senior ADOD personnel have told Embassy officials
that they want to have the additional ADF forces use a
command and control structure already in use with Combined
Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF),rather than the
current arrangement with the NATO/ISAF command. Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Pace recommended this arrangement
during his February 12 meeting with Chief of the Australian
Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. ADOD
officials told us the timeframe for deployment would likely
be early May 2007. The forces would likely remain in
Afghanistan for more than one rotation, that is, beyond
August 2008, the theoretical end of their two-year
commitment. ADOD plans to send a small reconnaisance mission
into Orugan Province on/about February 26. Defence Minister
Nelson briefed Secretary Gates on the GOA plan recently.
OPPOSITION PARTY SUPPORT
--------------
5. (S/NF) Opposition Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd
called the Ambassador on February 21 to inquire about the GOA
action and whether it would be a point of discussion during
Rudd's scheduled meeting with Vice President Cheney on
February 23. He complained that the Howard government was
not observing the usual practice of informing the opposition
party in advance of its plans, and thus he was concerned that
he might be caught off guard by the press and unable to
respond as effectively as he would like in campaign mode. He
CANBERRA 00000293 003 OF 003
continued to express Labor's continued support in general for
military involvement by Australia in Afghanistan, in stark
contrast to Labor's position on Iraq.
MCCALLUM