NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - OCTOBER 17, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 USNATO 000564 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. This is a resend of USNATO 00563, to add additional addressees. ¶2. (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. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶3. (C/NF) In prepared remarks following Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer's appreciative introduction, Deputy SACEUR USNATO 00000564 002 OF 005 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. ¶4. (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. ¶5. (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. ¶6. (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. ¶7. (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. ¶8. (U) As these were farewell remarks, PermReps did not have the opportunity to engage in discussion. ¶9. (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. ¶10. (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 USNATO 00000564 003 OF 005 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. ¶11. (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 2006, 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. ¶12. (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. ¶13. (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. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶14. (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 USNATO 00000564 004 OF 005 November 17. He also informed the Council that the Military Committee will travel to Kosovo on October 18. -------------- Darfur -------------- ¶15. (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. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶16. (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. ¶17. (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 -------------- ¶18. (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, USNATO 00000564 005 OF 005 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 --- ¶19. (C/NF) The YG noted eight Allies had circulated a letter onSeptember 19 on arms control (urging NATO to put agreater emphasis on arms control issues). Basedon the discussion at the PermReps informal coffeeOctober 16, he suggested tasking the SPC to provde to the NAC before December's Foreign Minister' meeting an outline for the framework for further consideration of the topic. No PermReps objecte. 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