COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT FOR EQUIPPING NINE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000701 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS TO BILL JENSEN, NEA-I/PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ MARR MASS MCAP PREL SUBJECT: COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT FOR EQUIPPING NINE ADDITIONAL IRAQI FORCE GENERATION UNITS ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 10. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The U.S Embassy Country Team concurs with the full and immediate equipping of nine additional Iraqi army units via Foreign Military Sales (FMS) as a part of the force generation plan. The GOI will generate these units to provide for its own security and defend against the insurgent threat. The plan includes provisions for equipping, training, and basing and will have a significant positive impact on the improvement of the Iraqi Armed Forces. With the expansion of the Iraqi armed forces, these newly establiShed force generation organizations will enhance their ability to select and identify known terrorists and insurgents, which will significantly reduce the possibility for coalition collateral damage. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) SECURITY GOALS: This Country Team Assessment (CTA) addresses Letters of Request (LOR) for nine Iraqi Army (IA) units. These units include an Iraqi division Headquarters, Division troops and the subordinate Brigade Headquarters units. Specific units to be generated include: -- 12th Division IA headquarters -- 12th IA Brigade - Tikrit -- 3/14th IA Brigade -- 4/7th IA Brigade -- 4/14th IA Brigade -- 14th Division troops -- Three (3) Iraqi Army brigade headquarters -- Four (4) light infantry battalions The LORs also include requests for individual soldier equipment to be stocked at the basic training combat center. The equipping of these units will be funded with host nation funds through an FMS case financed by the GOI. The Iraqi Armed Forces are projected to integrate the acquisition of this equipment with trained personnel beginning in July 2008 to offset a draw down in Coalition Forces (CF). The Embassy country team supports a full and immediate release of the required equipment and continued training of leaders including officers, non commissioned officer and soldiers to establish these organizations. ¶4. (SBU) JUSTIFICATION: The generation and fielding of these units will enhance Iraq's development of a force capable of assuming the lead role in internal offensive and defensive missions, secure the nation of Iraq, ensure the security of the Iraqi population, and counter the existing insurgency. ¶5. (SBU) COCOM CONCURRANCE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF FORCE GENERATION UNITS: The Combatant Commander's (CENTCOM) assessment and concurrence will be provided separately. ¶6. (SBU) ANTICIPATED REACTION FROM NEIGHBORING CONTRIES: The Country Team does not anticipate that the development of these new units will adversely affect the regional balance of power with neighboring nations or cause negative reactions from other nations. ¶7. (SBU) TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY: Iraq has demonstrated both the intent and ability to protect sensitive and classified military technology since working with us and Coalition Forces. The Foreign Assistance Act, Section 505 agreement, signed by the GOI on 24 July 2004, demonstrates Iraq's commitment to protect grant defense articles and technology similar to our standards. We will continue to monitor the GOI on their protection of sensitive U.S. Government (USG) technology in order to provide long-term security cooperation with Iraq. We will also obtain all necessary formal agreements with the GOI before|t(TUY carry out a robust Enhanced End-Use Monitoring (EEUM) program for equipping these force generation units. Technologies that are considered sensitive and require End-Use agreements have been previously procured through the FMS cases and include over 2000 Night Vision Goggles and ITT radios (COMSEC including 139 base stations, 1402 vehicular mounted and 3240 hand held portable VHF varieties. ¶8. (SBU) COALITION TRAINING PLAN: This training will be conducted and demonstrated by the partnering nations agreement under the general supervision of the Coalition training plan and as determined by the country team. BAGHDAD 00000701 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) IRAQ'S POLITICAL IMPORTANCE IN THE REGION: A stable, democratically-elected Iraqi government, capable of protecting its people and sovereignty--while remaining at peace with its neighbors--is one of the USG's highest priority foreign policy objectives. The establishment and implementation of these force generation units will facilitate progress towards that goal by increasing the Iraqi Army's ability to provide security and other key military operations against anti-Iraqi forces, while significantly reducing the risk to itself and others. ¶10. (SBU) SOURCE OF FINANCING AND ECONOMIC IMPACT: This purchase will be financed by the GOI with Iraqi national funds. The cost is estimated in CY2008 funds at 6,69M dollars (as rough order of magnitude). We do not envision that USG approval of this technology release will in any way adversely affect either Iraqi or USG programmed funding. There is no significant economic impact based upon our analysis processes in anticipation of these critical FMS cases. ¶11. (SBU) RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS: There are no human rights considerations that would preclude the release of this equipment to the Iraqi military. ¶12. (SBU) END USE MONITORING: Sensitive items identified and described in paragraph 7 are subject to end user monitoring as agreed upon between host nation and the multi-national coalition forces and alignment with the security assistance office policy and procedures guidance. ¶13. (SBU) COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT: The U.S. Embassy Baghdad Country Team recommends that the USG approve the establishment and equipping of the nine (9) force generation units described in paragraph 3. ¶14. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The Embassy Country Team requests the Department engage with the Deputy Secretary of the Army for Defense Export Cooperation and other relevant offices to approve the full and immediate release the creation and generation of the nine (9) force generation LORS authenticated and signed by the Iraqi Minister of Defense. CROCKER