Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08ASUNCION667 | 2008-09-26 20:48:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Asuncion |
VZCZCXYZ0005 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0667/01 2702048 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 262048Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7279 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/USSOCOM WO WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUCQSAC/SOCSOUTH DEPLOYED MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY |
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000667 |
1. (U) The Ambassador, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Paraguay, and the Paraguayan Military Forces Commander concur with the Terms of Reference (TOR) and deployment as outlined here. In accordance with the TOR, the following information is provided: A. (U) Chief of Mission (COM) Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation Paraguay (USODC PRY) Chief Colonel Paul Murray (CHODC), and General Bernardino Soto Estigarribia, Commander of the Paraguayan Military Forces, have concurred/approved this deployment. B. (C) MISSION: On October 1, the Civil Military Support Element (CMSE) will sustain deployment to Paraguay to develop civil affairs (CA) activities in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) and other areas as required in coordination with and in support of CHODC and Country Team in support of USSOUTHCOM Threat Security Cooperation Plan (TSCP) and post Mission Strategic Plan (MSP). These operations will include but are not limited to Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP), Humanitarian Civic Action (HCA) projects, MEDRETES, MEDCAPs, and Disaster Relief (DR) efforts. These operations will coordinate civic action and development efforts on the part of Paraguayan military elements and units, national government organizations and humanitarian assistance focused NGOs, and will help build the Paraguayan military's capacity to conduct civic action that will assist in present a favorable image of the Paraguayan military (PRYMIL), the government of Paraguay, and the U.S. government. Operational priority will be to support efforts focused on Global War on Terror (GWOT) objectives. C. (C) CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS: On or about October 1, the CMSE will sustain deployment to Paraguay, to continue operations based on the civil-affairs action plan for Paraguay. As necessary, the CA element will conduct surveys of prevailing attitudes and an assessment of basic needs in the TBA and other areas as required in coordination with and in support of CHODC and Country Team in order to support USSOUTHCOM TSCP and post MSP. The CA element will be based in Asuncion, and will conduct regular travel to the areas identified by the CHODC and Special Operations Command Forward Paraguay (SOCFWD PRY) commander to coordinate and execute CA operations. The resulting civil affairs assessments and operations will enable the CHODC to submit humanitarian assistance program (HAP) project nominations to USSOUTHCOM for validation and resources. The end result of these CA operations is to positively impact regional stability in the TBA and other areas in Paraguay in support of the GWOT; expand the civil information picture; support other USODC and Country Team Humanitarian Assistance related goals and objectives; and assist building and improving the partner nation's (PN) ability to govern the TBA and other areas throughout Paraguay, as required. The CA element will continually assess impacts and progress against effectiveness and performance measures, and conduct a baseline survey of the centers of gravity. (C) Total personnel deployed: Not to exceed six personnel. Routine rotation of forces is authorized. (U) Pre-deployment Site Survey (PDSS): PDSS dates are to be determined. The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade will deploy a PDSS team to Asuncion in advance of normal force rotations to conduct initial coordination and planning with USODC PRY and Country Team personnel. (U) Advance Echelon (ADVON): Not required. (U) Main Body: On or about October 1, four to six personnel from the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade will sustain deployment to Paraguay and conduct CA activities. (U) Redeployment: Rotation of forces are authorized in accordance with SOCSOUTH rotation directives. D. (C) Justification: SOCSOUTH requires six CA personnel on a rotational basis to conduct civil affairs operations in order to support USODC PRY, USSOUTHCOM TSCP, and GWOT objectives. Two CA personnel will work with the SOCFWD PRY as its primary CA planners, providing necessary coordination to SOCFWD PRY, USODC PRY, Country Team, and appropriate local businesses and organizations in support of CA operations. Four CA personnel will interface with Paraguayan Armed Forces CA staff to plan and support CA operations. The entire CA element will operate in conjunction with the other Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements as appropriate. This CA mission will support building capacity within Paraguay to provide increased government presence and support in the civil information picture in the TBA and other under-governed areas of Paraguay. E. (C) Coordination Requirements: USODC PRY and SOCFWD PRY will meet and assist at airport with customs inspections, and other concerns for PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody; coordinate initial meetings with Paraguayan personnel during PDSS and ADVON, if necessary; coordinate lodging and food for PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody personnel; provide Paraguayan local and national threat and intelligence briefs to PDSS, ADVON, and mainbody upon arrival; provide information on Paraguayan holidays that would impact mainbody; provide a movement plan to move necessary equipment and personnel to survey locations; provide storage for sensitive items; and provide escort and transportation throughout deployment. SOCFWD Paraguay will conduct Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) activities in support of mission SPA2009CMSE002W. Once the CMSE arrives in country, direct line of authority (DIRLAUTH) between CMSE, USODC PRY, host nation interagency, and the Country Team is authorized. PDSS personnel will coordinate details of emergency response plan with SOCSOUTH and USODC PRY. F. (U) Expected interruptions: None. G. (U) The COM and CHODC authorize airborne operations. 2. (U) Command and Control: The SOCFWD PRY commander will have operational control (OPCON). The CHODC will be the Combatant Commander South designated risk determination authority, and have tactical control (TACON) for Force Protection over deployed forces. The CHODC's assessment is that contact with hostile elements is unlikely and the area is secure and adequately protected. 3. (U) USODC PRY provides the following force protection assessments for Paraguay: A. (C) There are no indigenous terrorist organizations in Paraguay whose activities are directed against U.S. interests. There are no political groups or parties that are currently active in this country 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 cannot discount the possibility of terrorist activity, including random acts of anti-American violence. The general threat in and around Asuncion is low for domestic terrorism and high for crime. In addition, the countrywide threat is medium for transnational terrorism. There is no known targeting of U.S. personnel. B. (U) USODC PRY will continue with force protection assessments and will advise of any changes that could impact the mission. C. (U) SOCFWD PRY operations non-commission officer (NCO) will provide threat update upon arrival. Deploying forces need to conduct their own force protection threat assessment upon arrival. This will be tasked to the ADVON. 4. (C) Country Team concurs with the deployment dates of October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009. A. (U) Main location of this deployment will be Asuncion with additional locations as authorized by the CHODC and SOCFWD PRY commander in conjunction with Embassy Asuncion. 5. (U) All personnel and equipment will arrive via commercial air or contracted freight. Country clearance approval will only be authorized if the U.S. Department of State' e-Country Clearance (eCC) system is used; clearances sent via the DOD APACS system will not be approved without the eCC. Any questions about using eCC can be answered by visiting the following web site: https://ecc.state.gov/security/EccLogin.aspx. 6. (U) Deploying equipment: Personnel are not authorized to deploy with weapons at this time since the Paraguayan Congress has not approved entry of "foreign armed forces" into the country. Any weapons needed for Force Protection reasons will be provided by the SOCFWD PRY commander after approval from the CHODC and in accordance with US Embassy Asuncion's Weapons Policy. 7. (U) USODC's POC fo this deployment is Army/Navy Section Chief Major Elliot Harris; tel: COM (301)985-9395 extension 119; DSN 294-9000 then dial 59395, extension 119; cell: 011-595-971-377-311. NIPR e-mail: harrisee@tcsc.southcom.mil; SIPR e-mail: harrisee@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil. SOCFWD's POC for this deployment is Operations Officer MAJ Jason Brizek; tel: COM 011-595-2121-3715 extension 2152; cell: 011-595-981-300-178. NIPR e-mail: Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.mil; SIPR e-mail: Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.smil.mil. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion AYALDE |