INPUT ON CHANGE IN DOD'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000668 SIPDIS SIPDIS EAP FOR EX E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018 TAGS: ABLD AFIN AMGT APER ASEC ODIP TH SUBJECT: INPUT ON CHANGE IN DOD'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT POST REF: A. STATE 17502 ¶B. SDO/DATT DIRECTIVE Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Bangkok appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the dialog between State and DoD on the implementation of the Senior Defense Official/DATT Directive. State, DAO, and JUSMAG representatives have followed this initiative closely and we believe that the plan to create the SDO/DATT position will assist in coordinating State-Defense issues here in Bangkok. While we view this undertaking positively, we do have a few questions to raise. ¶2. (C) DAO Bangkok has been told that an official decision has been made to designate the JUSMAGTHAI Chief as the SDO/DATT and that this appointment would become effective June 2008. In order to fulfill DATT duties and to provide consultation on DoD activities with the Ambassador, we expect the SDO/DATT to have an office within the Chancery as well as at JUSMAGTHAI. As JUSMAGTHAI is not co-located in the Chancery, we envision the need to reconfigure the DATT office to provide an office for the SDO/DATT. ¶3. (U) Section 3.1 of the SDO/DATT Directive indicates that the SDO/DATT has the authority to require consultation between the DoD agencies and if essential agreement cannot be obtained, refer the matter to the next senior in the reporting chain. Embassy Bangkok intends to continue resolving these issues internally before involving more senior officials in DoD. This includes raising the issue in question to the Chief of Mission. Indeed, it is essential that nothing in this proposal be seen as potentially undermining Chief of Mission authority. ¶4. (U) Section 5.9.5 of the Directive specifies that the SDO/DATT present coordinated DoD views on all defense matters to the COM and act as the single DoD point of contact for the COM. As Bangkok is home to a large number of DoD organizations with diverse activities, it would not be practical for the SDO/DATT to have in-depth knowledge of the activities of all of DoD operations. As such, the COM plans to supplement consultation with the SDO/DATT with advice from the heads of other DoD agencies. In that view, the DCM would continue to chair monthly POL/MIL coordination meetings. ¶5. (U) We appreciate the opportunity to provide input to implementation of the SDO/DATT initiative and look forward to continued close State-Defense cooperation at Post. JOHN