Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OTTAWA1594
2008-12-29 21:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
CANADA WITHDRAWS ENTIRE IRAQI EXCHANGE CONTINGENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6343 OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #1594 3642142 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 292142Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8916 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0097 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0103 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1400 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1001 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001594
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ CA
SUBJECT: CANADA WITHDRAWS ENTIRE IRAQI EXCHANGE CONTINGENT
REF: A. OTTAWA 1576
B. OTTAWA 1501
C. STATE 126109
Classified By: Pol MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001594
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ CA
SUBJECT: CANADA WITHDRAWS ENTIRE IRAQI EXCHANGE CONTINGENT
REF: A. OTTAWA 1576
B. OTTAWA 1501
C. STATE 126109
Classified By: Pol MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C/NF) Canada decided on December 26 to withdraw all
nine of its exchange officers embedded with U.S. forces in
Iraq, following a high-level decision by Department of
National Defence (DND) policy makers in response to a DND
risk assessment, according to Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade (DFAIT) legal officer Suneeta
Millington. Despite earlier assurances by Millington (ref
a) that Canada would keep some of the contingent in place,
she admitted on December 29 that DND and DFAIT leaders
"just did not have the comfort level to keep any of them in
place, given the results of the risk assessment."
2. (C/NF) Millington added that Canada has no plans to
approach the Iraqi government to negotiate an agreement
that would give legal protection to future Canadian embeds
with U.S. forces. She reiterated the "high importance"
that Canada places on the overall embed opportunities, and
promised that DND would initiate mil-mil discussions with
DOD counterparts in Washington soon after the new year to
discuss future arrangements for Canadian exchange officers
in light of this new Iraq-specific restriction.
Visit Canada?s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS IZ CA
SUBJECT: CANADA WITHDRAWS ENTIRE IRAQI EXCHANGE CONTINGENT
REF: A. OTTAWA 1576
B. OTTAWA 1501
C. STATE 126109
Classified By: Pol MinCouns Scott Bellard, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C/NF) Canada decided on December 26 to withdraw all
nine of its exchange officers embedded with U.S. forces in
Iraq, following a high-level decision by Department of
National Defence (DND) policy makers in response to a DND
risk assessment, according to Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade (DFAIT) legal officer Suneeta
Millington. Despite earlier assurances by Millington (ref
a) that Canada would keep some of the contingent in place,
she admitted on December 29 that DND and DFAIT leaders
"just did not have the comfort level to keep any of them in
place, given the results of the risk assessment."
2. (C/NF) Millington added that Canada has no plans to
approach the Iraqi government to negotiate an agreement
that would give legal protection to future Canadian embeds
with U.S. forces. She reiterated the "high importance"
that Canada places on the overall embed opportunities, and
promised that DND would initiate mil-mil discussions with
DOD counterparts in Washington soon after the new year to
discuss future arrangements for Canadian exchange officers
in light of this new Iraq-specific restriction.
Visit Canada?s Economy and Environment Forum at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada
WILKINS