Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1420
2008-09-12 14:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
GOB NOT EAGER TO SEE ISAF ROLE EXPANDED TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1420 2561435 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121435Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7997
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001420
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM:CDORLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: NATO MOPS MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: GOB NOT EAGER TO SEE ISAF ROLE EXPANDED TO
COUNTER-NARCOTICS
REF: STATE 97395
Classified By: Acting ECON/POL Chief Elizabeth Ewing, reason 1.4(b) and
(d).
(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche concerning expanding
ISAF Op Plan responsibilities to counternarcotics
interdiction missions to Pieter Vandevelde of the MFA's NATO
office. Vandevelde said that the prevailing view in the GOB
is that NATO should be careful about expanding the ISAF
mission. He said the main concerns are
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001420
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM:CDORLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: NATO MOPS MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: GOB NOT EAGER TO SEE ISAF ROLE EXPANDED TO
COUNTER-NARCOTICS
REF: STATE 97395
Classified By: Acting ECON/POL Chief Elizabeth Ewing, reason 1.4(b) and
(d).
(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche concerning expanding
ISAF Op Plan responsibilities to counternarcotics
interdiction missions to Pieter Vandevelde of the MFA's NATO
office. Vandevelde said that the prevailing view in the GOB
is that NATO should be careful about expanding the ISAF
mission. He said the main concerns are 1) the idea of ISAF
taking on a counternarcotics role runs counter to the goal of
giving Afghans more of a role in the security of their
country, 2) with collateral injury to civilians already a
problem, counternarcotics missions open ISAF up to increased
risk of mistakes that could lead to civilian casualties and
3) as far as Belgian troops are concerned, the new mission
would exceed the narrowly defined authority granted to the
Belgian military for Afghanistan. Poloff stressed that the
vision for the new mission is for "opt-in" rather than
"opt-out" to take account of national caveats. He also
reminded Vandevelde of the large and growing narcotics
production in Afghanistan and the low level of national
ability to deal with the problem, which would justify a
larger ISAF role in this area.
FOX
.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM:CDORLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: NATO MOPS MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: GOB NOT EAGER TO SEE ISAF ROLE EXPANDED TO
COUNTER-NARCOTICS
REF: STATE 97395
Classified By: Acting ECON/POL Chief Elizabeth Ewing, reason 1.4(b) and
(d).
(C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche concerning expanding
ISAF Op Plan responsibilities to counternarcotics
interdiction missions to Pieter Vandevelde of the MFA's NATO
office. Vandevelde said that the prevailing view in the GOB
is that NATO should be careful about expanding the ISAF
mission. He said the main concerns are 1) the idea of ISAF
taking on a counternarcotics role runs counter to the goal of
giving Afghans more of a role in the security of their
country, 2) with collateral injury to civilians already a
problem, counternarcotics missions open ISAF up to increased
risk of mistakes that could lead to civilian casualties and
3) as far as Belgian troops are concerned, the new mission
would exceed the narrowly defined authority granted to the
Belgian military for Afghanistan. Poloff stressed that the
vision for the new mission is for "opt-in" rather than
"opt-out" to take account of national caveats. He also
reminded Vandevelde of the large and growing narcotics
production in Afghanistan and the low level of national
ability to deal with the problem, which would justify a
larger ISAF role in this area.
FOX
.