C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000667

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2033
TAGS: PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA
SUBJECT: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR CIVIL MILITARY
SUPPORT ELEMENT (CMSE) MISSION SPA2009CMSE002W

REF: COMSOCSOUTH 272007Z

Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


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