DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO

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