JAKARTA - DS/ATA AND SPECIAL DETACHMENT 88

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 003162 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, S/CT DS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA AND DS/T/ATA DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ FBI FOR ETTIU/SSA ROTH E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017 TAGS: ASEC PTER EFIN KCRM KHLS KPAO ID SUBJECT: JAKARTA - DS/ATA AND SPECIAL DETACHMENT 88 REF: A. A) JAKARTA 00545 B) JAKARTA 00292 JAKARTA 00248 C) 06 JAKARTA 05485 D) 05 JAKARTA 14789 ¶B. E) 03 STATE 310662 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY RSO JEFF LISCHKE. REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (U) Begin Summary. Post appreciated the visit of DS/ATA Director Steve Brunette and DS/ATA Desk Officer Steve Hargrove. In addition to signing the Memorandum of Intent between the Embassy and the Indonesian National Police (INP), the visit provided useful ideas on improving the already successful performance of DS/ATA sponsored INP counter-terrorism unit Crisis Response Teams (CRT) from Special Detachment (SD) 88. Post was relieved to hear that the DS/ATA program will continue and that a "graduation" from the program will be gradual and not occur in the near future. The purpose of this cable is to provide background information on SD-88 and articulate our future plans to enhance the capabilities of SD-88, including by assigning a DS/ATA technical advisor to the Mission. End Summary. -------------- How to improve SD-88 -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Post has discussed ways to improve SD-88, including the use of U.S. Military --- to conduct the training. However, because of the sensitivity and potential political ramifications of the U.S. Military training civilian INP personnel, we recommend against this. Post believes it is important to maintain a civilian law enforcement culture within SD-88. Additionally, the DATT is concerned that if his Indonesian Military (TNI) counterparts discovered that our U.S. military was training civilian INPs it would harm his relationship with the TNI. ¶3. (C) Post believes, and the DS/ATA Director said he concured, that with proper planning and dedication of resources, the DS/ATA program can take the SD-88 training to a more advanced level. Post proposes the establishment of a long-term ATA technical advisor (TA) who would be responsible for conducting an assessment of the current capabilities of SD-88 and develop and implement a training program that would take SD-88 to the next level. ¶4. (C) To take SD-88 to the next level, the Detachment will need training on a variety of tactical operations - both urban and rural. Additionally, SD-88 personnel need to develop their investigative and surveillance skills, technical intelligence capabilities and their command and control and planning capabilities while continuing to refine their marksmanship and room entry techniques. It is also critical for the DS/ATA to maintain a low profile and remain "behind the scenes" and out of the press and give credit where credit is due, i.e. to the INP. ¶5. (C) In an effort to facilitate SD-88's deployment and make it a more effective and cohesive unit, DS/ATA is in the process of constructing a dedicated facility for SD-88 CRT-1 which is the INP HQ National CRT. The facility is located in Cikeas just outside of Jakarta and will consist of a command center and briefing rooms. The expected completion date of this project is May 2008. -------------- Military or Civilian -------------- ¶6. (S/F) One key to the success of this more advanced training is to identify and select the most qualified person as technical advisor. We believe that keeping the DS/ATA training in civilian hands is important to the success of the program. There is no doubt that while a retired military person with the requisite special forces/counter-terrorism background might bring a lot to the table, we feel that a civilian with extensive civilian law enforcement SWAT experience would be a better choice. We would, however, like to take advantage of the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Joint Combined Exercise Training (JCET) program as long as Post leadership determines what type of training they offer SD-88 personnel. JAKARTA 00003162 002 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶7. (C) The success of SD-88 in the counter-terrorism arena is undeniable. However, there is always room for improvement and we all agree that SD-88 needs more specialized advanced and sustainment training. DS/ATA is operationally capable and stands ready to launch this new initiative that will take SD-88 to the next level. POC is RSO Jeff Lischke at 62-21-3435-9013. HUME