TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 DEPLOYMENT

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000526

SIPDIS

SOCSOUTH PLEASE PASS TO LTC OTERO, STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2033
TAGS: PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA
SUBJECT: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 DEPLOYMENT
OF 1ST PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS BATTALION MILITARY
INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM

REF: COMSOCSOUTH 152250ZMAY08

Classified By: A/DCM Joan Shaker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) The Ambassador, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation
Paraguay (USODC),Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),and U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) concur with the
1st Psychological Operations Battalion (POB) Military
Information Support Team (MIST) deployment as outlined here
(reftel). In accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR),
the following information is provided:


A. (U) MISSION FILE NUMBER: SPA2009TRP502W.


B. (U) MISSION: Upon order, 1st POB (A) deploys a MIST to
Asuncion, Paraguay, from October 1, 2008, through September
30, 2009, to conduct the approved Trans-Regional
Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Program to support stability
operations, whose purpose is to eliminate internal threats
and deny conditions that could be exploited by terrorists
through their enablers. PSYOP forces will assist in
establishing control over ungoverned and under-governed
spaces. PSYOP programs will focus on disrupting conditions
that are exploited by terrorists through a Counter
Narco-Terrorism (CNT) nexus. As improving governance and
supporting institution building are inexorably linked, PSYOP
programs must supplement and augment other ongoing Civil
Military Operations (CMO) and like efforts to deny conditions
that could be exploited by terrorists and their enablers.
Focus activities will achieve two objectives: support
stability operations by conducting activities that
legitimizes partner nation (PN) governments, militaries, and
police forces; and focus activities on the nodes and centers
of gravity that will meet Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)
objectives. This supports Special Operations Command South
(SOCSOUTH),USODC Chief Theater and Country Security
Cooperation objectives, and Country Team goals of the Mission
Strategic Plan.


2. (S) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS:


A. (C) Mainbody: This is an ongoing mission. 1st POB (A)
will continue to deploy forces to support Regional War on
Terrorism (RWOT) objectives. MIST will also provide Defense
Support to Public Diplomacy by providing technical assistance
to the designated PN unit(s),and by producing and
disseminating PSYOP products in accordance with SOCSOUTH
directives and plans, and in coordination with Country Team
and the approval of the Ambassador. While based in Paraguay,
this team may further deploy to other regional countries as
required, with the approval of the Ambassador, USODC Chief,
and the SOCFWD Paraguay Commander.


B. (C) Total personnel deployed: Not to exceed (NTE) six
personnel. Routine rotation of forces is authorized.


C. (S) Justification: In order to achieve the goals in
Paraguay, the MIST will align with other Department of
Defense (DOD) and Country Team Information Operation
activities in order to disrupt illegal activities that
support transnational narco-terrorist and terrorist
operations in Paraguay. These combined actions will assist
and enhance the U.S. and partner nations in their ability to
deter the development of transnational narco-terrorism and
terrorism and focus on specific geographic areas within
countries, regions, or territories that may provide safe
havens for terrorists and/or their enablers. MIST will
support the implementation of a synchronized DOD and
interagencies, CNT, CT, and rewards information program in
order to achieve the goals laid out in the Country Security
Cooperation Plan (CSCP) and U.S. Embassy Paraguay's Mission
Strategic Plan (MSP). This mission will enhance the MIST's
capabilities to respond to challenges and contingencies in
the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Focus and
further the USG's national strategic objectives.
Additionally, CNT and CT activities encourage regional
security forces to remain subordinate to civil authority,
adhere to the rules of law, support human rights and promote,
and support democratic institutions.


3. (U) Coordination Requirements: USODC will meet and
assist at airport with customs inspections, and other
concerns for main body deployments; coordinate initial
meetings with Paraguay personnel and agencies; provide local
area and national level threat and intelligence briefs for
Paraguay to main body upon arrival; provide information on


Paraguayan holidays that could impact main body; and support
coordination for storage of sensitive items. MIST personnel
will coordinate details of the evacuation and recovery (E/R)
plan with the Joint Staff Support (J-2),SOCSOUTH, and USODC.


4. (U) The Ambassador and USODC Chief authorize airborne
operations. Upon approval of the SOCSOUTH Commander, Special
Operations Forces (SOF) units are responsible to ensure all
drop zones have current certification, and a SOCSOUTH
commander-approved risk assessment. All U.S. safety
standards for airborne and airmobile operations must be
enforced. Primary platform for combined airborne operations
should be U.S. aircraft. Airborne operations with Paraguayan
airborne units may also be executed to sustain this combat
capability in both U.S. and Paraguayan units. Airmobile
operations will be conducted with the U.S. Air Force, U.S.
Army, or PN aircraft.


5. (U) Command and Control: The SOCFWD Paraguay Commander
will have operational control (OPCON),and USODC Chief will
be the Combatant Commander South designated risk
determination authority and have tactical control (TACON) for
Force Protection over deployed forces. The USODC Chief's
assessment is that contact with hostile elements is unlikely
and the area is secure and adequately protected.


6. (C) USODC provides the following force protection
assessments for Paraguay:


A. (C) There are no indigenous terrorist organizations in
Paraguay. There are no political groups or parties that are
currently active in this country that are specifically
targeting U.S. interests. However, given the presence of
sympathizers and support for extremist terrorist groups in
the Tri-Border Area of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil (Alto
Parana and Itapua departments),visitors here cannot discount
the possibility of terrorist activity, to include random acts
of anti-American violence. The general threat in the
designated training areas in and around Asuncion is low for
domestic terrorism and high for crime. In addition, the
threat is medium for transnational terrorism throughout the
country. There is no known targeting of U.S. personnel.


B. (U) USODC will continue with force protection
assessments and will advise of any changes that could impact
the training.


C. (U) Status of Forces: The Combatant Commander will
coordinate to ensure deploying DOD personnel receive
in-theater briefings concerning legal status of DOD personnel
in Paraguay. The Combatant Commander, as Risk Determination
Authority, has approved presence of SOF in Paraguay without
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) protections or
Administrative and Technical (A&T) status. The SOCSOUTH
Commander delegates administrative control of deploying unit,
for status purposes only, to the USODC Chief.


7. (S) Product Approval: PSYOP products that have
substantial political or strategic implications will be
forwarded to USSOUTHCOM for Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy approval. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) will
expedite approval (and interagency coordination as required)
to ensure timely availability for use.

E.1. USSOUTHCOM commander will delegate product approval
authority to:

E.1.a. During peacetime activities, USSOUTHCOM commander
delegates product approval and dissemination authority to
Chief of Mission (COM). The Ambassador or his/her designated
representative will have final product approval and
dissemination authority of all PSYOP products intended for
dissemination during peacetime activities.


8. (U) Public Affairs: Public affairs posture for this
deployment is passive. Deployed personnel may discuss
unclassified aspects of the mission outlined in specific
public affairs guidance to be published.


9. (C) Country Team concurs with the deployment dates of
October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009.


A. (U) Main location of this deployment will be Asuncion
with additional locations as authorized by the SOCFWD
Paraguay Commander and USODC Chief in conjunction with U.S.



Embassy Asuncion.


10. (U) A SOCFWD Paraguay operations non-commissioned
officer (NCO) will provide threat update upon arrival;
however, deploying forces will need to conduct their own
force protection threat assessment upon arrival.


11. (U) All personnel and equipment will arrive via
commercial air or contracted freight. Personnel will not
arrive via military air (MILAIR) without prior coordination.
Country Clearance approval will only be authorized if the
Department of State's e-Country Clearance (eCC) system is
used; clearances sent via the DOD APACS system will not be
approved. Any questions about the eCC can be answered by
going to the following web site:
https://ecc.state.gov/security/EccLogin.aspx.


12. (U) Deploying equipment: Personnel are not authorized
to deploy with weapons and must deploy with organic equipment
minus weapons. Any weapons needed for Force Protection
reasons will be provided by SOCFWD Paraguay after approval
from the USODC Chief and in accordance with the Embassy
Weapons Policy.


13. (U) USODC POC for this deployment is Army Section Chief,
Major Elliot Harris, tel: COM (301)985-9395, extension 119;
DSN 294-9000 then dial 59395, extension 119; cell phone
011-595-971-377-122; NIPR e-mail harrisee@tcsc.southcom.mil;
SIPR e-mail harrisee@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil.


14. (U) SOCFWD Paraguay POC is Lieutenant Coronel Michael
Ball, SOCFWD-PRY Operations Officer; tel: COM
011-595-2121-3715, extension 2046; cell phone
011-595-981-300-178; NIPR e-mail
michael.ball@socso.southcom.mil; and SIPR e-mail
michael.ball@socso.southcom.smil.mil.

Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion

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