AUSTRALIAN DESIRE TO PUT THEIR FORCES UNDER US

S E C R E T KABUL 000756 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN DESIRE TO PUT THEIR FORCES UNDER US VICE DUTCH COMMAND REF: CANBERRA 00329 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (S) Reftel explains that the Australians wish to put their additional forces under the Special Forces rather than NATOISAF command. Several of the issues discussed in the cable are not matters of the ROE or ISAF practice, but are specifically Dutch issues and we think some of them may be outdated. There has been no Australian contact with COMISAF General McNeill. We believe it would be extremely useful if the Australian military at a senior level would engage directly with General McNeill before making a final decision. We believe it likely that a number of the Dutch concerns can be successfully addressed. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (S) US General Dan McNeill now commands all ISAF forces which include the bulk of US combat forces in Afghanistan. MG David Rodriguez, who commands US forces in the East, is also double-hatted as the National Commander for most Special Forces operating in-country. Close cooperation of both forces will be an important element of effective operations during the fighting we expect to see later this year. NEUMANN