MINISTERS CONFIRM, ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN, PORTUGUESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002911

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA AND PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV PO
SUBJECT: MINISTERS CONFIRM, ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN, PORTUGUESE
DRAWDOWN IN AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. LISBON 2882


B. USDAO IIR 6879001608 DTG 021819ZNOV07

Classified By: Ambassador Alfred Hoffman for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C/NF) Summary: In conversations with Ambassador
Minister of Defense Severiano Teixeira and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Amado confirmed that Portugal intended to
draw down its contributions to ISAF by August 2008. The
Defense Minister portrayed this move as a "different kind of
commitment," and gave Ambassador Hoffman details on GOP plans
for continued engagement. Amado, however, was tellingly curt
in expressing his disagreement with the decision and told the
Ambassador in private that it was a political decision that
he "didn,t understand." Confirming what we have heard from
other sources (reftels),both intimated that President Cavaco
Silva was behind the decision. End summary.


2. (C/NF) Ambassador Hoffman spoke to Minister of Defense
Nuno Severiano Teixeira on November 9, and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Luis Amado on November 13 to protest reports
that Portugal planned to decrease its contribution to ISAF by
August 2008. Both ministers confirmed that the reports were
true. Both ministers claimed to have opposed the decision,
hinting very broadly that President Cavaco Silva was behind
it and had pushed it through during the most recent meeting
of the National Defense Council (a body that includes, among
others, both ministers, the President, the Prime Minister,
and the Chiefs of Staff of the service branches).


3. (C/NF) Severiano Teixeira characterized the decision as
a way in which Portugal planned to "continue to contribute."
He denied that "battle fatigue" played any role in the
decision, saying that it was taken for "political reasons,"
since "the President, as Commander-in-Chief, sets the
agenda." Severiano Teixeira said that the current plans call
for Portugal to deploy in January of 08 an OMLT it committed
to in the fall, and then withdraw its commandos (some 130
persons) by August of 08. Withdrawal of the commandos would
coincide with the deployment of a C-130 and crew. The
Defense Minister protested that Portugal,s commitment to
ISAF had not wavered; it was just contributing in a different
way. Portugal would also continue to "think about"
committing to lead more OMLTs. He said he must report on how
this plan will be implemented at the next meeting of the
National Defense Council (which has not been scheduled).


4. (C/NF) At a November 13 goodbye lunch he hosted for the
Ambassador, Foreign Minister Amado,s response to the
Ambassador,s query on why this decision was taken and why
NATO was not consulted was tellingly curt. "Mr. Ambassador,
you know my position," he said, "I think this sends the wrong
signal at the wrong time." Ambassador then informed the
minister that he would be bringing this issue up during his
farewell call on the President. The minister nodded but said
nothing.


5. (C/NF) In an one-on-one as they walked out, Amado told
the Ambassador that he, the Minister of Defense, and the
Prime Minister had been taken by surprise when the drawdown
came up in the National Defense Council. He further noted
that it was a "political decision," but one that he "didn,t
understand."


6. (C/NF) Comment: It is increasingly clear to us that
virtually the entire senior civilian and military leadership
was unhappy with the drawdown decision and that President
Cavaco Silva was the driving force behind it. Ambassador
Hoffman will raise this soonest with the President's Senior
Diplomatic Advisor and, of course, will bring this issue up
in his farewell call on the President. End Comment.
Hoffman