DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REQUESTS RELIEF FROM LEAHY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000734

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR TRYAN, CWARD; DRL: INR; H
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REQUESTS RELIEF FROM LEAHY
DELAYS


1. Summary. Embassy notes with understanding the tremendous
volume of Leahy vetting requests that must be processed by
the Department -- Embassy itself has submitted 66 requests
for over 460 individuals so far in FY 08, and submitted 82
requests for 635 individuals and 1 military unit in FY 07 --
and Embassy thanks its desk officers for expediting requests
to the extent possible, but Embassy must nevertheless note
that marked delays in the processing of its Leahy vetting
requests are jeopardizing USG work designed to protect the
homeland through fostering the rule of law, promoting human
rights, preventing terrorist activity, and combating
narcotics trafficking in the Dominican Republic.
Accordingly, Embassy proposes that steps be taken to speed
processing of Leahy vetting requests from the Dominican
Republic. End Summary.

-------------- --
Rank-order and poor staffing damage programming
-------------- --


2. From conversations with Department officials, Embassy
understands both DRL and INR processing of requests to be
based on a prioritized country-ranking and that the Dominican
Republic falls significantly toward the bottom of both
bureaus' lists; this is despite the fact that Embassy is the
third highest recipient of IMET funding in the Americas,
following only El Salvador and Colombia. Embassy
understands, moreover, that INR processing (at least for the
Dominican Republic) is largely done by a single part-time
employee who works but 2 days per week. Embassy's placement
in the rank-order for processing, combined with what Embassy
views as severely inadequate Department staffing, has
significant consequences.


3. Embassy has been told that every attempt will be made to
process requests within 10 working days of receipt, but has
noted repeated delays of several months in processing -- but
one example is the roughly 120 working day gap between the
submission of our request in 2007 SANTO DOMINGO 863 (April
17, 2007) and the Department's response in STATE 144409
(October 15, 2007). In other examples the gaps are equal or
nearly as significant: roughly 120 working days between the
submission of 2007 SANTO DOMINGO 986 and the Department's
response in 2007 STATE 147432; roughly 50 working days
between the submission of 2007 SANTO DOMINGO 2422 and the
response in STATE 1684, etc. In a recent trend, and likely
in an effort to speed response, Embassy has begun receiving
back channel notification of vetting approvals, but, as the
60 working day response time for SANTO DOMINGO 130 (sent
January 8, 2008) suggests, this is not a perfect solution.
Moreover, partner agencies such as SOCSOUTH require front
channel confirmation of clearance.


4. While these excessive delays, admittedly, occur
infrequently, and while desk officers and both DRL and INR
have often responded positively to Embassy's last minute
entreaties, the fact that these gaps do occur, and the fact
that the typical gap is now roughly 20 working days (still
outside the Department's own guidelines),provides ample
evidence of the larger problem the Embassy faces.


5. In terms of real world impact, delays have caused the
Embassy more than just inconvenience: delays have prevented
the training of key individuals with time-sensitive
schedules, have put the Embassy's Military Advisory and
Assistance Group at risk for thousands of dollars in
penalties when students were unable to travel for U.S.-based
military training, and, in the case of SOCSOUTH, have forced
the cancellation of critical 1206-funded training needed to
protect the homeland and U.S. citizens resident and visiting
from the threat of terrorist attack.

--------------
Proposals
--------------


6. Embassy recognizes that many countries are critical to the
security of the United States and of its citizens abroad, but
suggests that, given the 1 million annual U.S. visitors to
the Dominican Republic, the 100,000 U.S. citizens resident,
the small geographic distance between the Dominican Republic
and the United States (80 miles across the Mona Passage),the
criticality of the Dominican Republic to the U.S. Southern
Command's plan to secure the southern approaches to the
continental United States (recognizing the Dominican Republic
to be a functional "third border"),and the increasing flow
of illegal narcotics through Hispaniola to the United States
(over 100 metric tons annually),that the Dominican Republic

is such a country.


7. Embassy requests that the Dominican Republic be considered
a high-priority country for all Bureaus involved in Leahy
vetting processing and that Embassy's submissions be
expedited.


8. Embassy further suggests that, despite the grave budget
situation facing the Department, it is of critical importance
to increase staffing dedicated to the processing of Leahy
vetting.


9. Considering that vetting to date has not discovered
significant human rights violators among Embassy's proposed
individuals, as well as the marked improvement in the human
rights situation in the country over the past several years,
Embassy further suggests that the Department may wish to
consider the Dominican Republic for the next tranche of
"fast-track" countries.


10. Embassy welcomes Department's response to this problem
and any proposed solution.
FANNIN