NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - OCTOBER 17, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000563

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - OCTOBER 17, 2007

Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:

-- Afghanistan: In a farewell address to the NAC, Deputy
SACEUR indicated NATO must transform and adapt to
contemporary demands and operational tempo if it is to
survive. He provided a tour d,horizon on force generation,
capabilities, funding, and NATO-EU relations.

The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) looked ahead to
the November force generation conference. SHAPE noted that
Musa Qala remains an "operational hub" for enemy forces, and
asked for donations to ISAF's post-operations relief fund.
Ambassador Nuland urged quick work on outsourcing ISAF
short-term helicopter lift shortfalls, more information on
the structure of ISAF and Afghan forces involved in
operations, and more analysis of the enemy threat in Badghis
and around Kabul.

-- Balkans: The SYG noted NATO,s Military Committee will
visit Kosovo on October 18. Former COMKFOR General Kather
will brief an informal meeting of the NAC in KFOR format on
October 18.

-- Darfur: Ambassador Nuland informed the NAC that U.S. Air
Force C-17's are preparing to execute the U.S.-provided
airlift of Rwandan AMIS peacekeepers, pending Sudanese
landing clearances.

-- Iraq: Polish PermRep Winid detailed the October 3 attack
on Polish Ambassador to Iraq, General Edward Pietrzyk, and
expressed gratitude to Coalition and American forces,
Ambassador Crocker, and the Blackwater Company, for their
quick action in countering the attack that has left the
Ambassador in serious condition.

CMC Henault briefed on the NTM-I PMR process, noting that the
Military Committee memorandum (MCM) has passed silence, and
highlighting both a GOI request to continue training and the
need for further political guidance from the NAC to determine
whether the NTM-I mission's end state will be achieved within

2008. The General gave notice to Allies that the Hungarian
Military Advisory and Liaison Team (MALT) at Ar Rustamiyah is
scheduled to leave in February 2008, without any replacement
designated as of yet.

-- Response to Terrorism: The SYG referred to the recent
terrorist attacks in Turkey and commented that Allies
continue to face a terrorist threat. The Turkish PermRep
offered a brief synopsis of the attacks and reaffirmed
Turkey's resolve to fight PKK terrorism. Ambassador Nuland
noted solidarity with the Turkish government as well as
American efforts to help facilitate discussions between
Baghdad and Ankara.

-- AOB: The SYG noted a September 19 letter circulated by
eight Allies on arms control and suggested tasking the SPC to
provide the NAC an outline for the framework for further
consideration. The SYG noted the continued lack of agreement
on whether to hold an EAPC meeting at the Bucharest Summit
and whether to hold a Mediterranean Dialogue meeting at the
December Foreign Ministerial.

END SUMMARY.

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Afghanistan
--------------


2. (C/NF) In prepared remarks following Secretary General de
Hoop Scheffer's appreciative introduction, Deputy SACEUR
General Sir John Reith offered frank observations from his
three years of service on force generation, capabilities,
funding, and NATO-EU relations, while making clear his hope
to see NATO flourish in meeting its 21st-century challenges.
NATO must transform, with HQ focusing on output and adapting
to contemporary demands and operational tempo if the
organization is to survive, he concluded.


3. (C/NF) On force generation, Reith cited institutional
progress in managing the process -- better software and tying
command billets in NATO operations to levels of nations'
force contributions -- but urged the NAC to avoid approving
military operations "in the abstract," arguing for a need to
"informally" force generate a mission prior to launching it.


4. (C/NF) On capabilities, he noted the forces Allies had
deployed to both NATO and non-NATO operations, and stated
only about 40,000 troops remain ) enough for an additional
small joint NATO operation, or filling gaps in current
missions, but not more. He urged nations to build more
deployable forces as an answer, and to aim beyond current
Istanbul Summit-agreed goals and shoot for 100% deployable
forces, with 20 percent sustainable for long-term operations.
General Reith made the clear point that nations must match
political ambitions for NATO with resources, citing NATO's
continuing helicopter lift shortages, and SACEUR's recent
rescinding of NATO Response Force full operational capacity
status as example of currently unsustainable political
ambitions.


5. (C/NF) He turned to common funding, declaring that NATO's
"costs lie where they fall" modus operandi was a Cold War
relic. Linking common funding with burden sharing, he stated
that too often Allies agree on a mission, then do not support
it proportionally, either financially or with troops. Troop
movements, infrastructure, and logistics on a reimbursable
basis should be commonly funded, he advocated, noting that
Allies who are neither putting soldiers at risk on a mission
nor paying a fair share to support those soldiers should bear
more costs. He also cited the lack of common funding as a
major reason for geographic caveats, as nations who have
invested much money in permanent base infrastructure become
reluctant to leave.


6. (C/NF) On NATO-EU relations, he used Operation Althea in
Bosnia as the example in stating that Berlin Plus has been a
success. He cited good reciprocal liaison arrangements at
SHAPE and the EU Military Staff, and urged nations to provide
the liaison offices with more resources. Looking outside of
the narrow Berlin Plus framework, he cited positive informal
work on Darfur, post-status Kosovo, and EUPOL Afghanistan,
He cited much untapped potential in the relationship, citing
the need to unravel the post-2003 (comment: when Berlin Plus
was agreed) institutional relationship to reap the benefits
of full cooperation.


7. (U) As these were farewell remarks, PermReps did not have
the opportunity to engage in discussion.


8. (C/NF) CMC Henault told the NAC that the Military
Committee was continuing to discuss Allied inability to fill
the ISAF mission,s Combined Joint Statement of Requirements
(CJSOR),citing troop shortfalls, Afghan Army trainers, and
helicopters as key priorities. SACEUR had recently sent
letters to Allied CHODs, encouraging them to bring
significant offers to the November 6-8 force generation
conference at SHAPE.


9. (C/NF) SHAPE A/COS for Plans and Policy BG Porter gave the
weekly operational brief. He stated that RC-South remains
the Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) main effort, with a focus
on the Helmand river valley. Musa Qala district in Helmand
remains, according to BG Porter, an OMF operational hub,
facilitating and coordinating OMF activity in RC-South and
RC-West. He stated that the overall security situation in
Badghis province was deteriorating, with "hot pockets" of OMF
activity likely arising as a result in 2008. In RC-East, he
briefed continuing operations with ISAF and ANSF forces in
Tora Bora and other border regions, as well as OMF interest
in destabilizing districts around Kabul. He provided an
overview of several other ISAF operations throughout
Afghanistan, with a unifying theme in most being the goal to

set conditions in an area for Afghan National Security Forces
(ANSF) to move in and establish a presence. COMISAF's main
operational effort remains in RC-East, BG Porter briefed, but
that in the coming weeks, it will shift back to RC-South. He
provided additional details on ISAF,s Operation Pamir, which
recently replaced Now Ruz as ISAF's pan-theater effort.
Pamir aims to keep the pressure on OMF over the course of the
winter, interdicting lines of communication, disrupting
command and control, and degrading leadership, while helping
to demonstrate the growing ability of the Afghan government
to meet the needs of its population.


10. (C/NF) BG Porter stated that the ISAF Post Operations
Humanitarian Relief Fund has received a total of 952,463
Euros since its inception in November 2007, and has spent
620,421 Euros. It is being increasingly used, and stands to
be depleted by the end of the year. Lithuania announced a
50,000 USD contribution to the Fund. Italy asked if SHAPE
had projections for how much would be needed for 2008. BG
Porter said he would seek a general estimate, but noted the
great need for such assistance means that ISAF will well use
whatever it is given.


11. (C/NF) During discussion, Germany noted the overwhelming
approval October 12 by the Bundestag to renew the ISAF
mandate, which also included the Tornado reconnaissance
deployment. The German PermRep stated the mandate's new
troop ceiling of 3,500 will allow a greater German effort in
building and training ANSF. The UK told the NAC that the
Afghan government's pre-planting counternarcotics campaign is
functioning in 10 of the planned 18 provinces, involving
local shuras, senior Afghan government officials, and
publicity about incentives such as the United States, Good
Performance Initiative, to get the word out against poppy
cultivation prior to the imminent begin of the planting
season.


12. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland thanked Germany for renewing its
ISAF mandate. She urged the NATO military chain of command
to quickly turn around a paper providing additional financial
advice on the outsourcing of ISAF intra-theater sustainment
airlift, so that NATO,s Senior Resource Board could make a
final decision. Thanking BG Porter for his brief, she asked
if SHAPE, in future briefs, could highlight the ISAF and ANSF
units involved in each operation. It would be increasingly
important in the run-up to Bucharest, she stated, for the NAC
to be able to see how the Afghan Army was progressing, and
how NATO,s training role fit into the picture. She
requested future SHAPE briefs focused on the situations in
Badghis and around Kabul, as well as one that could look at
what had been accomplished in the Tora Bora region of RC-E
thus far, and BG Porter took the requests on board.

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Balkans
--------------


13. (C/NF) Following the Monday, October 15, NRC meeting with
the Kosovo Troika, the SYG noted the October 18 informal
meeting with former KFOR commander General Kather will offer
another opportunity to discuss the situation in Kosovo. He
mentioned that the next scheduled round of negotiations
between the parties and the Troika will take place on October
22 in Vienna, followed by a Troika de-brief to the Contact
Group. The CMC noted that KFOR's operational tempo remains
steady and that they are prepared to ensure a safe and secure
environment and ensure freedom of movement throughout Kosovo
during the upcoming election period between October 25 and
November 17. He also informed the Council that the Military
Committee will travel to Kosovo on October 18.

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Darfur
--------------


14. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland informed the NAC that U.S. Air
Force C-17 strategic airlift are now standing by in Europe
and are ready to deploy African Union peacekeepers to Darfur,
pending government of Sudan landing clearances.

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Iraq
--------------


15. (C/NF) Polish PermRep Winid provided the NAC with details
regarding the attack on Polish Ambassador Pietrzyk in Baghdad
on October 3 which killed one Pole and wounded five others.
He characterized the attack as very well planned and said
that it is not clear to Polish authorities whether the attack
was an assassination attempt or a hijack attempt, but he
mentioned the Mahdi Army as possible perpetrators. The
three-car motorcade was making its way from the Ambassador's
Residence to the Polish Embassy along the only route
available when three IEDs simultaneously exploded; one under
each vehicle. The convoy was then attacked from rooftops by
many terrorists firing small arms. He expressed gratitude to
Coalition and American forces for their quick response and to
the Blackwater Company for quickly moving the Ambassador away
from the site of the attack. He also thanked American
Ambassador Crocker for his quick intervention to get the
Polish wounded evacuated to Ramstein AFB. The PermRep noted
that the Polish Embassy in Baghdad has been moved to the
International Zone. Ambassador Pietrzyk remains in serious
condition with burns over 25 percent of his body.


16. (C/NF) CMC Henault summarized the NTM-I PMR process for
the NAC, stating that the MCM has passed silence with a copy
forwarded to the SYG on October 15. He said that SHAPE, in
response to a request from the GOI, is considering additional
types of training to be provided by Mobile Advisory and
Mentoring Teams and Training Augmentation Teams. The CMC
also explained that, "ultimately, political guidance from the
NAC is necessary to determine whether the NTM-I mission's end
state will be achieved within 2008," as per the PMR. On a
related issue, General Henault urged Allies to consider ways
to replace the Hungarian MALT that is scheduled to leave Ar
Rustamiyah in February. To date, no new force protection
assets have been pledged.

--------------
Response to Terrorism
--------------


17. (C/NF) The SYG commented that Allies continue to face
terrorism and that he was saddened and appalled over
terrorist attacks in Turkey this month. The SYG noted he
spoke to President Gul as well to offer his condolences.
Turkish PermRep Ildem offered a brief synopsis of the attacks
that the PKK conducted over four consecutive days from
October 5 ) 8. Sixteen security personnel had been killed,
13 in an ambush, 2 by sniper fire, 1 by a land mine, and over
70 had been wounded. These security personnel had been
carrying out a mission as a response to the PKK's September
29 attack on civilians. PermRep Ildem said that all
indications are that the terrorists came through the border
with Iraq. He reaffirmed Turkey's resolve to fight PKK
terrorism and renewed his call for allies to come together in
support of doing so. Expectations over the agreement signed
between Turkey and Iraq to work together on terrorism remain
in place, he said. Furthermore, the PermRep noted that the
Turkish Parliament is today debating whether to allow cross
border operations into Iraq but that the Parliament,s
support for such operations does not imply imminent action,
but rather a determination to combat terrorism. The Iraqi VP
is currently in Ankara and the Turkish FM will be in Baghdad
this weekend. Ambassador Nuland noted solidarity with the
Turkish government as well as American efforts to help
facilitate discussions between Baghdad and Ankara.
Ambassador Nuland further said that the United States will
continue to work with Turkey in the fight against terrorism,
but noted that she hopes Turkey would show restraint.

---
AOB
---


18. (C/NF) The SYG noted eight Allies had circulated a letter
on September 19 on arms control (urging NATO to put a greater
emphasis on arms control issues). Based on the discussion at
the PermReps informal coffee October 16, he suggested tasking
the SPC to provide to the NAC before December's Foreign
Ministers' meeting an outline for the framework for further
consideration of the topic. No PermReps objected. The SYG
further noted the continued lack of agreement on whether to
hold an EAPC meeting at the Bucharest Summit and whether to
hold a Mediterranean Dialogue meeting at the December Foreign
Ministerial. He hoped an agreement could be reached soon to
allow for logistical planning.
NULAND