Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE88304
2008-08-17 22:19:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Secretary of State
Cable title:
TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20
how-toVZCZCXRO2534 OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDE RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHKN RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNH RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHC #8304/01 2302224 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 172219Z AUG 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 2285 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 3508 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USD:SOLIC// IMMEDIATE RHBVAKS/COMFIFTHFLT IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/COMSIXTHFLT IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/NGA HQ BETHESDA MD IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USJFCOM NORFOLK VA IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE:PRO/DAPE-PRR-C/DAPE:MO// IMMEDIATE RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC//DAMO-AOC-CAT//PCC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSTRATCOM OFFUTT AFB NE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//TWC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J-1//J-3:JOD// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 6510 RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0808
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 088304
NOFORN, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD
SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20
CLASSIFIED BY: MMESQUITA/DCSCHNEIDER, S/ES-O, REASON
1.4(D)
RUSSIAN FORCE MOVEMENTS
------------
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 088304
NOFORN, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD
SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20
CLASSIFIED BY: MMESQUITA/DCSCHNEIDER, S/ES-O, REASON
1.4(D)
RUSSIAN FORCE MOVEMENTS
--------------
1. (SBU) Embassy Moscow reports the Russian Deputy
Chief of the General Staff said preparations for a
withdrawal are underway. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon).
2. (S/NF) Georgian forces established a checkpoint
north of Kaspi within 1 km of Russian troops. (TF/EUCOM
e-mail)
3. (S/NF) Turkey scrambled fighters in response to a
Russian bomber near the Turkish coast. (TF/EUCOM
telcon)
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND RESOURCES
--------------
4. (SBU) UNHCR estimates the total number of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) will reach 100,000.
(TF/USAID e-mail)
5. (SBU) Authorization is pending for release of MREs
at Poti for transfer to the UN for distribution.
(TF/USAID e-mail)
6. (SBU) Senator Biden visited an IDP center and met
with the crew of one of the C-130s bringing assistance.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails)
7. (S/NF) Three daily C-130 flights of rations and
bedding, and an additional daily C-17 flight of rations,
are scheduled August 18-26. (TF/EUCOM telcon)
STATUS OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
--------------
8. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi reports Russian President
Medvedev told French President Sarkozy Russia will begin
a phased withdrawal August 18. Media report Medvedev
emphasized the need for Georgia unconditionally to
return its units to their original bases. (TF/Embassy
Tbilisi e-mails, Interfax)
9. (SBU) NATO's political committee will meet August
18 to discuss a response to Georgian requests for
assistance and a potential ministerial statement.
(TF/USNATO telcon)
10. (SBU) France, the UK and the United States called
for swift adoption of a draft UNSCR. USUN noted a
resolution must account for the lack of clarity in the
Sarkozy-brokered agreement and the evident failure of
Russia to withdraw. (TF/USUN e-mail)
11. (SBU) Pending a Russian request, Finland will
table a draft on expanding OSCE monitors at an OSCE
Special Political Committee meeting August 18. The
request likely will be to transport 10 armored personnel
STATE 00088304 002 OF 002
carriers for an initial 40-50 observers next week.
(TF/USOSCE e-mails)
12. (SBU) OSCE SYG De Brichambaut told reporters "the
fate of South Ossetia should be decided by the people of
South Ossetia themselves" and that a decision "needs to
take into account history and reality." (Interfax)
13. (SBU) Richard Holbrooke told post Georgians were
discontented with their government. Post assesses no
imminent danger to the Saakashvili government, but the
government needs to cope with popular discontent.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)
CONSULAR UPDATE
--------------
14. (SBU) The Evans children's aunt, Josie Evans, and
Rep. Chris Smith's office inquired into the safety of
routes out of Chiatura. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails)
15. (SBU) Post issued a warden message advising Amcits
in the vicinity of the forest fires to consider leaving,
and to avoid all travel on the highways between Khashuri
and Gori and to the north and west of Kutaisi.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mail)
16. (U) Minimize considered.
RICE
NOFORN, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD
SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20
CLASSIFIED BY: MMESQUITA/DCSCHNEIDER, S/ES-O, REASON
1.4(D)
RUSSIAN FORCE MOVEMENTS
--------------
1. (SBU) Embassy Moscow reports the Russian Deputy
Chief of the General Staff said preparations for a
withdrawal are underway. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon).
2. (S/NF) Georgian forces established a checkpoint
north of Kaspi within 1 km of Russian troops. (TF/EUCOM
e-mail)
3. (S/NF) Turkey scrambled fighters in response to a
Russian bomber near the Turkish coast. (TF/EUCOM
telcon)
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND RESOURCES
--------------
4. (SBU) UNHCR estimates the total number of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) will reach 100,000.
(TF/USAID e-mail)
5. (SBU) Authorization is pending for release of MREs
at Poti for transfer to the UN for distribution.
(TF/USAID e-mail)
6. (SBU) Senator Biden visited an IDP center and met
with the crew of one of the C-130s bringing assistance.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails)
7. (S/NF) Three daily C-130 flights of rations and
bedding, and an additional daily C-17 flight of rations,
are scheduled August 18-26. (TF/EUCOM telcon)
STATUS OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
--------------
8. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi reports Russian President
Medvedev told French President Sarkozy Russia will begin
a phased withdrawal August 18. Media report Medvedev
emphasized the need for Georgia unconditionally to
return its units to their original bases. (TF/Embassy
Tbilisi e-mails, Interfax)
9. (SBU) NATO's political committee will meet August
18 to discuss a response to Georgian requests for
assistance and a potential ministerial statement.
(TF/USNATO telcon)
10. (SBU) France, the UK and the United States called
for swift adoption of a draft UNSCR. USUN noted a
resolution must account for the lack of clarity in the
Sarkozy-brokered agreement and the evident failure of
Russia to withdraw. (TF/USUN e-mail)
11. (SBU) Pending a Russian request, Finland will
table a draft on expanding OSCE monitors at an OSCE
Special Political Committee meeting August 18. The
request likely will be to transport 10 armored personnel
STATE 00088304 002 OF 002
carriers for an initial 40-50 observers next week.
(TF/USOSCE e-mails)
12. (SBU) OSCE SYG De Brichambaut told reporters "the
fate of South Ossetia should be decided by the people of
South Ossetia themselves" and that a decision "needs to
take into account history and reality." (Interfax)
13. (SBU) Richard Holbrooke told post Georgians were
discontented with their government. Post assesses no
imminent danger to the Saakashvili government, but the
government needs to cope with popular discontent.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)
CONSULAR UPDATE
--------------
14. (SBU) The Evans children's aunt, Josie Evans, and
Rep. Chris Smith's office inquired into the safety of
routes out of Chiatura. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails)
15. (SBU) Post issued a warden message advising Amcits
in the vicinity of the forest fires to consider leaving,
and to avoid all travel on the highways between Khashuri
and Gori and to the north and west of Kutaisi.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mail)
16. (U) Minimize considered.
RICE