Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN951
2008-07-18 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN MOD REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION REGARDING A
how-toVZCZCXRO0850 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHRL #0951 2001226 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181226Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1682 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0548 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9119 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 1129 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 9686 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1297 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1580 RUEHRL/USDAO BERLIN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0609 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0270 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000951
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: GM NATO PREL IO AF
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION REGARDING A
PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED ANA FORCE SIZE
REF: A (STATE 71479) B (BERLIN 00909)
Classified By: DEPUTY POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000951
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: GM NATO PREL IO AF
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION REGARDING A
PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED ANA FORCE SIZE
REF: A (STATE 71479) B (BERLIN 00909)
Classified By: DEPUTY POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Following the meeting with German MFA officials on
July 10 reported in reftel B, PolOff delivered reftel A
points to COL Bernd Schtt, Armed Forces Staff at the German
MOD, on July 14, 2008. Schtt appeared surprised about the
timing of the current proposal for an ANA force size
increase, since it was only in February 2008 that the
decision was made to increase the ANA to 80,000 military
personnel. He stated that quickly modifying that decision
could create a credibility problem and would also make
benchmarking more difficult. The new benchmark would need
good justifications.
2. (C) Schtt also voiced a number of specific questions and
concerns regarding the proposed ANA force size increase:
-- Is the force size increase in the context of the
discussion of bringing the ANP into the ANA command
structure? He added that this would be politically very
sensitive.
-- What kind of new capabilities would be added to the
ANA: Infantry, Special Forces, PSYOPS, and/or other special
capabilities?
-- How is the enlarged ANA going to be sustained
financially?
-- Who is to provide OMLTs for the new ANA units?
3. (C) Post will follow up on this issue, but would
appreciate more details on the proposal for an increased ANA
force size in order to respond to contacts in the MFA and MOD.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: GM NATO PREL IO AF
SUBJECT: GERMAN MOD REQUESTS MORE INFORMATION REGARDING A
PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED ANA FORCE SIZE
REF: A (STATE 71479) B (BERLIN 00909)
Classified By: DEPUTY POL MC STAN OTTO. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Following the meeting with German MFA officials on
July 10 reported in reftel B, PolOff delivered reftel A
points to COL Bernd Schtt, Armed Forces Staff at the German
MOD, on July 14, 2008. Schtt appeared surprised about the
timing of the current proposal for an ANA force size
increase, since it was only in February 2008 that the
decision was made to increase the ANA to 80,000 military
personnel. He stated that quickly modifying that decision
could create a credibility problem and would also make
benchmarking more difficult. The new benchmark would need
good justifications.
2. (C) Schtt also voiced a number of specific questions and
concerns regarding the proposed ANA force size increase:
-- Is the force size increase in the context of the
discussion of bringing the ANP into the ANA command
structure? He added that this would be politically very
sensitive.
-- What kind of new capabilities would be added to the
ANA: Infantry, Special Forces, PSYOPS, and/or other special
capabilities?
-- How is the enlarged ANA going to be sustained
financially?
-- Who is to provide OMLTs for the new ANA units?
3. (C) Post will follow up on this issue, but would
appreciate more details on the proposal for an increased ANA
force size in order to respond to contacts in the MFA and MOD.
TIMKEN JR