Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KINSHASA469
2008-05-28 11:17:00
SECRET
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:
DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKI #0469/01 1491117 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 281117Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8050 RUSNNRB/CDRUSMCA STUTTGART GE PRIORITY INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0045 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 4654 RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 4807 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//DSCA PRIORITY
S E C R E T KINSHASA 000469
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2028
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PK PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO
EASTERN DRC
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: DCM SBROCK FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D
S E C R E T KINSHASA 000469
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2028
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PK PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO
EASTERN DRC
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: DCM SBROCK FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D
1. (C) SUMMARY: Post requests deployment of a military
information support team (MIST) to plan, conduct and execute
special information programs and training in coordination
with appropriate Embassy sections, the Armed Forces of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC),and the UN Observer
Mission to the Congo (MONUC). MIST programs will support the
Embassy's MSP, USSOCOM's Expanded Trans-regional Program
(ETRP),CJCSI 3110.05D, and OSD's 2008 Guidance for the
Employment of the Force. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) The MIST team will provide planning, product
development, production, distribution, and dissemination in
support of the Nairobi Communique and other multilateral
efforts to assist in the disarmament and repatriation of the
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),and to
counter the FDLR's extremist Hutu message. Specifically, the
team will develop programs and products to support the
Expanded Trans-regional Program (ETRP) and provide training
in information operations to FARDC in support of CJCSI
3110.05D as a part of USG efforts to help build security
institutions in DRC. All products developed by the team in
support of these plans and efforts will be coordinated with
appropriate Embassy sections and approved by the Ambassador
prior to distribution and dissemination.
Expanded Trans-Regional Program
--------------
3. (S/NF) Expanded Trans-Regional Program objectives are to
encourage divisiveness amongst members of trans-regional
terrorist organizations; discourage membership in
trans-regional terrorist organizations; discourage financial
and logistical support for trans-regional terrorists and
their affiliates; deny sponsorship and support by unwitting
supporters of trans-regional terrorist organizations;
discredit trans-regional terrorist organizations; marginalize
radical ideology and develop a favorable information
environment to U.S. and participating nations. (NOTE: The
FDLR, formerly the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR),
is listed by the Interagency Intelligence Committee on
Terrorism as a priority 2B group for counterterrorism.)
Security Institution Building
--------------
4. (FOUO) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction
3110.05D, Enclosure D, lists Security Institution Building
among its pre-approved PSYOP programs. The requested MIST
would have a second objective of increasing the
professionalism of the FARDC and building its capacity to
continue information operations against the FDLR after the
MIST departs.
5. (S/REL) Per the Guidance for the Employment of the Force
(GEF),DRC is considered a critical partner. As such, a main
priority for the US is to build the capacity of this partner
to provide for its own internal and regional security.
Support for Rewards Programs
--------------
6. (S/NF) MIST will provide support to the Department of
State Rewards for Justice Program as determined by the
Ambassador.
Team Deployment
--------------
7. (C) Request that MIST be deployed as soon a practicable
to Eastern DRC for a period not to exceed 179 days. A
Psychological Operations Assessment Team conducted a
preliminary survey of the area of operations in February 2008.
8. (C) Number of personnel is TBD by the Ambassador, but
will be a minimum of two soldiers and will not exceed eight.
Civilian clothing is authorized, as is discrete carry of side
arms. Team OIC rank requested 04 or above. It is preferable
that Team members have working knowledge/fluency in French.
9. (C) Department of State has up to $1.2M in T22
Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) monies available to support
this initiative. The State Department seeks a cost effective
approach to this project and requests that DoD's budget plan
be provided before commencing activity.
10. (U) Embassy conducts on going force protection (FP)
assessments for DRC. Team training is conducted in
accordance with USASOC AT/FP measures and any other
requirements as determined by specific mission requirements.
11. (U) Embassy POC is Public Diplomacy Officer Katya
Thomas; email addresses are thomaska@state.sgov.gov (SIPR)
and thomask@state.gov (NIPR).
GARVELINK
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2028
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PK PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO
EASTERN DRC
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY: DCM SBROCK FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D
1. (C) SUMMARY: Post requests deployment of a military
information support team (MIST) to plan, conduct and execute
special information programs and training in coordination
with appropriate Embassy sections, the Armed Forces of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC),and the UN Observer
Mission to the Congo (MONUC). MIST programs will support the
Embassy's MSP, USSOCOM's Expanded Trans-regional Program
(ETRP),CJCSI 3110.05D, and OSD's 2008 Guidance for the
Employment of the Force. END SUMMARY.
2. (S) The MIST team will provide planning, product
development, production, distribution, and dissemination in
support of the Nairobi Communique and other multilateral
efforts to assist in the disarmament and repatriation of the
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR),and to
counter the FDLR's extremist Hutu message. Specifically, the
team will develop programs and products to support the
Expanded Trans-regional Program (ETRP) and provide training
in information operations to FARDC in support of CJCSI
3110.05D as a part of USG efforts to help build security
institutions in DRC. All products developed by the team in
support of these plans and efforts will be coordinated with
appropriate Embassy sections and approved by the Ambassador
prior to distribution and dissemination.
Expanded Trans-Regional Program
--------------
3. (S/NF) Expanded Trans-Regional Program objectives are to
encourage divisiveness amongst members of trans-regional
terrorist organizations; discourage membership in
trans-regional terrorist organizations; discourage financial
and logistical support for trans-regional terrorists and
their affiliates; deny sponsorship and support by unwitting
supporters of trans-regional terrorist organizations;
discredit trans-regional terrorist organizations; marginalize
radical ideology and develop a favorable information
environment to U.S. and participating nations. (NOTE: The
FDLR, formerly the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR),
is listed by the Interagency Intelligence Committee on
Terrorism as a priority 2B group for counterterrorism.)
Security Institution Building
--------------
4. (FOUO) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction
3110.05D, Enclosure D, lists Security Institution Building
among its pre-approved PSYOP programs. The requested MIST
would have a second objective of increasing the
professionalism of the FARDC and building its capacity to
continue information operations against the FDLR after the
MIST departs.
5. (S/REL) Per the Guidance for the Employment of the Force
(GEF),DRC is considered a critical partner. As such, a main
priority for the US is to build the capacity of this partner
to provide for its own internal and regional security.
Support for Rewards Programs
--------------
6. (S/NF) MIST will provide support to the Department of
State Rewards for Justice Program as determined by the
Ambassador.
Team Deployment
--------------
7. (C) Request that MIST be deployed as soon a practicable
to Eastern DRC for a period not to exceed 179 days. A
Psychological Operations Assessment Team conducted a
preliminary survey of the area of operations in February 2008.
8. (C) Number of personnel is TBD by the Ambassador, but
will be a minimum of two soldiers and will not exceed eight.
Civilian clothing is authorized, as is discrete carry of side
arms. Team OIC rank requested 04 or above. It is preferable
that Team members have working knowledge/fluency in French.
9. (C) Department of State has up to $1.2M in T22
Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) monies available to support
this initiative. The State Department seeks a cost effective
approach to this project and requests that DoD's budget plan
be provided before commencing activity.
10. (U) Embassy conducts on going force protection (FP)
assessments for DRC. Team training is conducted in
accordance with USASOC AT/FP measures and any other
requirements as determined by specific mission requirements.
11. (U) Embassy POC is Public Diplomacy Officer Katya
Thomas; email addresses are thomaska@state.sgov.gov (SIPR)
and thomask@state.gov (NIPR).
GARVELINK