Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD701
2008-03-09 16:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT FOR EQUIPPING NINE
how-toVZCZCXRO9734 OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0701/01 0691655 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091655Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6143 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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
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
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