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 Cason