POST-ATTACK RESOURCE REQUESTS FOR CONSULATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 003048 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018 TAGS: PTER ASEC PK SUBJECT: POST-ATTACK RESOURCE REQUESTS FOR CONSULATE PESHAWAR REF: A. PESHAWAR 437 ¶B. PESHAWAR 436 Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, Reason 1.4 (d) Introduction -------------- ¶1. (SBU) In the wake of the August 26 attack on Principal Officer (Ref B),post has taken initial steps to enhance its security posture to respond to Peshawar's heightened threat conditions (Ref A). The State platform is already under tremendous pressure because of a more than 200 percent staffing increase over the past two years that has strained security, management/general services, and facilities capacity to the breaking point. In particular, Peshawar's current motor pool and body guard resources are insufficient to support post's augmented security arrangements, and we are falling behind in being able to conduct critical mission business in a timely fashion. ¶2. (SBU) Following are additional resource requirements, some with ICASS implications (although special supplemental funding may be able to cover some expenses until they can be annualized) that post believes are necessary to maintain a sufficient level of security, an appropriate operational tempo, and strong morale among employees. Position requests, with a few exceptions, are over and above positions that Peshawar is slated for in the Afghanistan/Pakistan Border Security Special Supplemental. These additional resources are important for successful implementation of our national security objectives in Pakistan's western border area. Post will address separately requests for additional USDH support positions. Post does not wish to delay the acquisition of the critically needed LES and material assets by tying them to requests for additional USDH personnel. Security Resources -------------- ¶3. (U) To support the heightened security posture for post's shuttle program and the Principal Officer's protection detail, post requests Washington's concurrence for expanding the host country bodyguard program. RSO has determined that four (4) additional body guards would be required (approximately $12,000 per year). Post also requests consideration for an increase in the daily stipend to our bodyguards who are seconded from the local police force. ¶4. (U) The newly developed transportation policy will require a higher level of interaction and constant supervision by the RSO office to facilitate security minded interaction with motor pool and host country police. Police will be supporting Consulate movements by providing three (3) escort vehicles, including 12 officers, daily. The steady rise in Consulate staffing and corresponding increase in RSO program responsibilities, along with the steady increase in VIP visits observing USG efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP),dictates an increase in RSO resources to accommodate our mission. ONE of the four DS positions in the security supplemental is designated for Peshawar, bringing our 2501 RSO staffing to three. Post requests an additional FSNI position to support the program. (Cost of FSNI approximately USD 16,000.) ¶5. (C) Post requests the deployment of a Blue Force Tracker system, based at the Consulate, to assist in monitoring and to provide more expedited support for vehicles in distress. ¶6. (U) Post appreciates the DS/MSD support with two visits in FY-08. The Mobile Security Detection Team is currently at post to provide a classroom refresher. We request Washington to consider defensive driving training for all of post's drivers on an annual basis, to maintain and reinforce skills learned to protect shuttle movements and USG dignitary visits better. ¶7. (U) The Peshawar police have cooperated and have met Consulate security requests to the best of their ability. Resource shortages continue to plague the police department. With the law and order situation in Peshawar deteriorating and the threat against Consulate personnel increasing, Consulate demands on police assets for post's security will eventually impact the Peshawar police's ability to sustain their operations and service to their community. Post ISLAMABAD 00003048 002 OF 004 requests DS/T/ATA look favorably on an ATA Pakistan program manager request to offer a grant to provide three vehicles to the local police, to ease the burden on their resources and their own law and order mission (approximately $120,000). Management/General Services -------------- ¶8. (U) New Positions: Post requests additional positions in motor pool and information technology to improve the safety, security and morale of staff at post. American staff at post tripled from 17 in 2005 to over 55 in 2008. However local ICASS support staff have only increased by one-third in the same period, severely straining the support structure at post. We can act quickly to address these urgent needs if we can proceed now with recruitment, selection and clearance of these Motor Pool LES (one PO driver, four pooled drivers, and one dispatcher). Given time needed for intake of new LES, the earliest we could bring these new LES on board would be October, with an approximate full year cost of USD 35,000. These six LES positions are at the top of the list for the urgent needs detailed in this telegram. Peshawar and Embassy request that these positions be funded with supplemental funding so that we can act now, and that the cost of the positions be annualized via corresponding increases in the ICASS and Program budgets. Justification follows: --8A. (U) Motor pool Management requests the following motor pool related positions to provide safe and adequate post operations: five drivers and ONE dispatcher. --8B. (U) PO driver: Currently post has ONE dedicated PO driver. Post requests an additional dedicated PO driver to enhance security coverage of her movements while ensuring that the PO driver is working reasonable hours and is thereby able to maintain alertness. (Cost: Approximately USD 6,000) --8C. (U) Drivers: Currently many of our drivers are working 66 hours scheduled just to meet home-to-work shuttle requirements. This is unsafe from a safety, HEALTH and environmental management (SHEM),and security perspective. One additional driver was included in the security supplemental LES positions already approved. Post needs four more drivers (and the additional PO driver) to meet new operational requirements. Additional drivers will enable post to support home-to-work transportation and meetings and other movements important to the mission in a safe and secure way. (Cost of four additional drivers: Approximately USD 23,000) --8D. (U) Dispatcher: Post currently has only ONE dispatcher. To support expanded motor pool operations to vary routes and times, post needs a second dispatcher to enable full dispatcher coverage during shuttle runs. (Cost approximately USD 6,000) ¶9. (U) Vehicles, Equipment and Supplies: --9A. Vehicles To ensure safe and adequate mobility for all Americans at post, five additional armored vehicles are needed. To vary the footprint, post requests that these vehicles not be Toyota Land Cruisers if possible. Post will maximize use of its current resources (especially via additional drivers requested in Para 8) but needs to boost its complement of FAVs to meet needs in the current threat environment. Embassy has need of its own FAVs and has limited ability to shift FAV assets to Peshawar. --9B. Backup Support: Given the importance of security lights at residences, post requests backup generators to use in case existing generators go down. Post currently does not have any spare generators. Post also requests funds for unarmored GSO vehicles to better support the consulate residences and facilities, to include an unarmored expeditor vehicle to facilitate safer airport transfers. Post also requests funds for toolkits and refrigerant detectors for air conditioner technicians, tools for IT staff (especially important if they now will need to support computer set ups at each residence and also decoders -- see para 10A),and a scanner for B&F to facilitate payments in this cash based society. Total cost: $163,200 -2 x 80 KVA backup generator ($35,000 each) ISLAMABAD 00003048 003 OF 004 -Unarmored expeditor pick-up truck or SUV ($22,000) -2 x unarmored GSO facilities duty officer pick-up trucks ($22,000 each) -Unarmored GSO procurement / supply pick up truck ($22,000) -3 x refrigerant gas detector for AC technician ($400 each) -5 x tool kit for GSO employees ($400 each) -Scanner ($800) -3 x IT staff toolkits ($400 each) ¶10. (U) Information Resources --10A. Work from Home: With the increasing incidence of limiting post travel to mission essential only for periods of time and the continuing likelihood of the need to impose that restriction, consistent capability of employees to work from home is essential. When our employees must stay at home for security reasons they instantly become telecommuters. To enable staff to work from home, post requests computers with FOBs for residences of all State staff in Peshawar. With one-year tours, the vagaries of UAB and HHE deliveries, and time-consuming customs clearance requirements, an employee could be at post for months without a home computer. We need to have computers at post on hand so that newly arrived employees are still able to be productive if security considerations leave them housebound for a time. (PO Note: We request that USAID match this set up for its employees who are also frequently affected by travel restrictions.) This would have the added essential benefit of allowing staff to vary their times to and from work b y being able to check e-mail and work from home on certain days to add unpredictability to the standard home-to-office and office-to-home routine. Cost per residence for initial year $4,400 x 15 residences = total $66,000. -Computer ($2,000) -Microsoft etc licensing for each computer ($500) -UPS for computer ($100) -FOB ($500) -Internet ($100 set up plus $100 per month for 512 speed) --10B. Home Morale: Given the considerable isolation caused by lack of mobility due to the security situation, post requests funds to improve the quality of life at post by equipping each residence with TV, DVD player and an Armed Forces Network decoder. While cable TV is available locally, it goes out whenever there is a power outage in the city, which averages twelve hours a day. During political emergencies, international and local news feeds available via cable subscription have been shut down or severely restricted. Providing a reliable source of news would better enable employees to stay abreast of breaking developments and would also improve morale. Cost per residence $1,359 x 15 residences = total $20,385. -TV for each residence (multisystem LCD which requires less power) ($500) -DVD player for each residence ($50) -Decoder ($399) -Satellite dish ($200) -UPS for tv/dvd/decoder ($200) --10C. DVC at Consulate: Because of the difficulty of traveling within Pakistan for meetings and training, post requests a digital video conference system. A DVC system would enable better communication with other posts and Washington. Cost for the system = $5,200 total -DVC Polycom VSX 5000 ($3,500) -TV for DVC/ Conference Room (42 inch) ($1500) -UPS (200) --10D. Information Access at Consulate: Uninterrupted access to broadcast media at the consulate is critical. Local cable TV often goes down. Post requests the installation of Armed Forces Network decoder at the consulate. Cost for total networked system to cover consulate = total $9,200. -Satellite dish ($200) -RF video optical isolator ($3,000) -5 decoders, 5 modulators, 5 demodulators, 1 combiner, 1 amplifier and 10% install fee for splitter and cabling etc. ($6,000) Facilities -------------- ISLAMABAD 00003048 004 OF 004 ¶11. (C) The Principal Officer's residence (POR) is located in University Town (approximately 3 miles from the Consulate). Post is exploring the re-location of the POR to the Cantonment. There are several homes close by the Consulate compound in the Cantonment that may be suitable (approximately $60,000 per year). Post will keep OBO apprised of progress on the re-location search. ¶12. (U) Post is grateful for OBO's continuing attention and support to expediting the start up of the build-out of the old POR on the Consulate compound that is now serving as office space. (Note: The old POR on the compound was converted into office space in December 2006.) Consulate staffing levels have exceeded the capacity of the existing safe haven. The build-out plans include the addition of a second safe haven that can properly accommodate increases in staff. ¶13. (SBU) Obtaining a new Consulate Compound (NCC) remains a critical priority. During U/S Kennedy and A/S Boswell's August 25 visit, post discussed an approach to pursue the possibility of taking over the lease of the Pearl Continental Hotel site on the periphery of the Cantonment. The site contains buildings that could be converted to both office and living space. The PC's 99-year lease expires in 2065. This option offers a relatively expedited solution (18-24 months) that would reduce our home to office travel by staff and provide improved/more secure working conditions. We would also seek to retain our current Consulate lease for the future Principal Officer's residence with some limited office functions at the site. ¶14. (U) Consulate appreciates Department's consideration of these requests. PATTERSON