Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN909
2008-07-10 15:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMANY NEEDS MORE INFO ON PURPOSE AND DEPLOYMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO3922 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRL #0909 1921512 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101512Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1629 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0547 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9105 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1128 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9671 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1283 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1579 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0256 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0608 RUEHRL/USDAO BERLIN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000909
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: IO NATO PREL AF GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY NEEDS MORE INFO ON PURPOSE AND DEPLOYMENT
BEFORE IT CAN SUPPORT AN INCREASED ANA
REF: STATE 71479
Classified By: DCM JOHN KOENIG. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000909
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: IO NATO PREL AF GM
SUBJECT: GERMANY NEEDS MORE INFO ON PURPOSE AND DEPLOYMENT
BEFORE IT CAN SUPPORT AN INCREASED ANA
REF: STATE 71479
Classified By: DCM JOHN KOENIG. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel points to Karin Marschall,
desk officer for the Defense and Security Policy Division at
the German MFA on July 10. Marschall expressed appreciation
for the points, but noted that Germany does not yet have an
official response due to outstanding questions concerning the
purpose and deployment of additional troops. Marschall also
noted that she understands the USG was previously aware of,
and possibly involved with, the negotiations within the GoA
to increase the size of the ANA while other allies were "left
in the dark."
¶2. (C) Marschall noted that Germany would not be able to
support an increase in the size of the ANA simply because
"the Afghan government wants more troops." While recognizing
Afghanistan's sovereign right to manage the size of its army
as it sees fit, Marschall requested more information as to
why the Afghan government would like an increased ANA, for
what purposes the additional troops would be used, and how
the troops would be distributed throughout the country.
¶3. (C) Marschall also asked about the responses of other
allies to the paper and POLOFF reported that to date the
responses had been generally favorable. While not willing to
commit herself, Marschall did note that there may be good
reasons behind an increase, but that the currently available
information is too vague for her to give an official
response. She noted that the Working Group of the JCMB will
have to look closely at this proposal and that the
international community must work closely with the GoA in
coming to "a common understanding about the overarching aims"
of the potential ANA enlargement.
¶4. (U) Embassy reps will follow up with MOD officials in the
coming days and report any substantive results septel.
TIMKEN JR