Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PRAIA188
2008-07-09 16:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Praia
Cable title:
CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE
how-toP R 091647Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY PRAIA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1507 DIA WASHINGTON DC DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHDC DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY LISBON HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE AMEMBASSY PRAIA
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAIA 000188
EUCOM PASS AFRICOM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/9/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL SNAR OEXC CV
SUBJECT: CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE
CLASSIFIED BY: Patrick Dunn, Charge, AMEMBASSY PRAIA, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(c),(d)
This is an action request: Please see paras 5 and 6.
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAIA 000188
EUCOM PASS AFRICOM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/9/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL SNAR OEXC CV
SUBJECT: CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE
CLASSIFIED BY: Patrick Dunn, Charge, AMEMBASSY PRAIA, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(c),(d)
This is an action request: Please see paras 5 and 6.
1. (C) On June 30, Charge met with Diplomatic Advisor to the
Prime Minister Antonio Nascimento, to discuss his recent
participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program on
transnational crime. Nascimento has also been quietly tasked
with assuming the lead on standing up Cape Verde's new
intelligence service, the National Information Service (SIR),
and discussion quickly turned to GOCV needs in this area.
2. (U) Nascimento was exceedingly impressed with the
organization of the IVLP program, and was inspired by some of
the meetings he had. In particular the visit graphically
demonstrated for him the importance of a well-designed and
properly staffed command center to coordinate responses to
emergent situations, crises, or operational engagements.
Nascimento's other significant take-away was the importance for
Cape Verde of getting its arms around "technical crimes" such as
identity theft and cyber crime.
3. (C) Applying these lessons directly to his SIR portfolio,
Nascimento outlined three strategic objectives for the new
service. First, the ability to visualize threats to the
territory of Cape Verde (much of which is maritime). This, he
summarized as the ability to gather information. Second,
analytical capability, to turn that raw information into
actionable intelligence and the capacity to disseminate that
information to decisionmakers. Third, he pointed to the need to
have the capacity to react to intelligence, and to deter threats
to the country. Nascimento has been in close contact with a
number of intelligence services, and understands the breadth of
the task he is facing, from collection capability, to
networking, to recruitment, training, analysis, and direct
action.
4. (C) Nascimento feels some urgency in his task, but is not, in
Post's view, rushing into any poor decisions. He has
methodically planned and executed legislative approvals,
implementing regulations, organizational charts, outreach to
other elements of the international intelligence community, and
coalition building within the GOCV. His strategic framework in
place, Nascimento now feels the time is ripe for moving to the
next stage, of standing up the entity, constructing secure
office space, and recruiting and training staff. Nascimento
outlined four short-term goals as his next steps: (1)
rehabilitate a building for use as the SIR headquarters; (2)
pass the organic law for the SIR, which essentially implements
his proposed organizational structure; (3) pass a state secrets
law; and (4) begin recruitment.
5. (C) Nascimento recognizes that he has significant unmet
needs, but singled out just three that he would seek USG
assistance on as soon as possible.
-- Training for one or two intelligence analysts. This training
could be by an intelligence agency per se, but if that proves
too sensitive a place to start, Nascimento would welcome
training from the intelligence professionals of related
disciplines and agencies (for example, DEA expertise in
analyzing drug trafficking, or FinCen expertise in analyzing
financial intelligence.)
-- Training in combating high-tech crime, including cybercrime,
identity theft, credit card fraud and other forms of financial
crimes.
-- Excess vehicles, preferably old, worn-out looking pickup or
utility trucks. Such vehicles would have many uses, he said,
but would need to be inconspicuous.
6. (C) Action Requested: Post finds each of the above requests
for assistance to be reasonable and well thought-out, and asks
that appropriate Washington-based agencies consider what
technical assistance might be available, whether from the IC or
the law enforcement community more broadly, to assist Nascimento
in standing up the SIR. POC: Please contact Justin Davis
(DavisJX@state.sgov.gov) Cape Verde Desk Officer at Dept of
State Africa Bureau, Office of West African Affairs, or Parick
Dunn, Charge d'Affaires a.i. at AmEmbassy Praia
(dunnpm@state.sgov.gov),with any questions or proposals.
DUNN
EUCOM PASS AFRICOM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/9/2018
TAGS: PINR PREL SNAR OEXC CV
SUBJECT: CAPE VERDE SEEKS HELP AS IT STANDS UP ITS INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE
CLASSIFIED BY: Patrick Dunn, Charge, AMEMBASSY PRAIA, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(c),(d)
This is an action request: Please see paras 5 and 6.
1. (C) On June 30, Charge met with Diplomatic Advisor to the
Prime Minister Antonio Nascimento, to discuss his recent
participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program on
transnational crime. Nascimento has also been quietly tasked
with assuming the lead on standing up Cape Verde's new
intelligence service, the National Information Service (SIR),
and discussion quickly turned to GOCV needs in this area.
2. (U) Nascimento was exceedingly impressed with the
organization of the IVLP program, and was inspired by some of
the meetings he had. In particular the visit graphically
demonstrated for him the importance of a well-designed and
properly staffed command center to coordinate responses to
emergent situations, crises, or operational engagements.
Nascimento's other significant take-away was the importance for
Cape Verde of getting its arms around "technical crimes" such as
identity theft and cyber crime.
3. (C) Applying these lessons directly to his SIR portfolio,
Nascimento outlined three strategic objectives for the new
service. First, the ability to visualize threats to the
territory of Cape Verde (much of which is maritime). This, he
summarized as the ability to gather information. Second,
analytical capability, to turn that raw information into
actionable intelligence and the capacity to disseminate that
information to decisionmakers. Third, he pointed to the need to
have the capacity to react to intelligence, and to deter threats
to the country. Nascimento has been in close contact with a
number of intelligence services, and understands the breadth of
the task he is facing, from collection capability, to
networking, to recruitment, training, analysis, and direct
action.
4. (C) Nascimento feels some urgency in his task, but is not, in
Post's view, rushing into any poor decisions. He has
methodically planned and executed legislative approvals,
implementing regulations, organizational charts, outreach to
other elements of the international intelligence community, and
coalition building within the GOCV. His strategic framework in
place, Nascimento now feels the time is ripe for moving to the
next stage, of standing up the entity, constructing secure
office space, and recruiting and training staff. Nascimento
outlined four short-term goals as his next steps: (1)
rehabilitate a building for use as the SIR headquarters; (2)
pass the organic law for the SIR, which essentially implements
his proposed organizational structure; (3) pass a state secrets
law; and (4) begin recruitment.
5. (C) Nascimento recognizes that he has significant unmet
needs, but singled out just three that he would seek USG
assistance on as soon as possible.
-- Training for one or two intelligence analysts. This training
could be by an intelligence agency per se, but if that proves
too sensitive a place to start, Nascimento would welcome
training from the intelligence professionals of related
disciplines and agencies (for example, DEA expertise in
analyzing drug trafficking, or FinCen expertise in analyzing
financial intelligence.)
-- Training in combating high-tech crime, including cybercrime,
identity theft, credit card fraud and other forms of financial
crimes.
-- Excess vehicles, preferably old, worn-out looking pickup or
utility trucks. Such vehicles would have many uses, he said,
but would need to be inconspicuous.
6. (C) Action Requested: Post finds each of the above requests
for assistance to be reasonable and well thought-out, and asks
that appropriate Washington-based agencies consider what
technical assistance might be available, whether from the IC or
the law enforcement community more broadly, to assist Nascimento
in standing up the SIR. POC: Please contact Justin Davis
(DavisJX@state.sgov.gov) Cape Verde Desk Officer at Dept of
State Africa Bureau, Office of West African Affairs, or Parick
Dunn, Charge d'Affaires a.i. at AmEmbassy Praia
(dunnpm@state.sgov.gov),with any questions or proposals.
DUNN