Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE97991
2008-09-12 19:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSTAINING AFGHAN

Tags:  AF PREL NATEU MOPS MARR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 097991 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: AF PREL NATEU MOPS MARR
SUBJECT: SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSTAINING AFGHAN
NATIONAL ARMY

REF: A. STATE 19516

B. STATE 71479

C. STATE 93225

Classified By: Acting A/S Judy Garber, for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 097991

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: AF PREL NATEU MOPS MARR
SUBJECT: SOLICITING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SUSTAINING AFGHAN
NATIONAL ARMY

REF: A. STATE 19516

B. STATE 71479

C. STATE 93225

Classified By: Acting A/S Judy Garber, for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) This is an action request. See paragraph 3.


2. (C) BACKGROUND: The September 10 Joint Coordination Board
Meeting in Kabul endorsed the Afghan Government's request to
expand the Afghan National Army (ANA) from the previously
internationally-endorsed size of 86,000 to 134,000 (inclusive
of a 12,000 soldier pool for transients and trainees). The
United States plans to take the lead in supporting ANA
expansion by providing funds for the initial training and
equipping of new ANA units. We are now making targeted asks
to Allies and key partners for financial support to the
sustainment of an expanded Afghan National Army. Sustainment
would include recurring costs for training; salaries; and
non-durable items such as personal equipment, munitions,
repair parts, and food. The U.S. has circulated a concept at
NATO proposing the Alliance manage a multi-donor trust fund
to administer donations for the long term sustainment of the
ANA and will explore further with Allies in the coming weeks.
Additionally, Washington notes reporting from Posts on
previous demarches (ref B and C) that many Allies and
Partners have questions regarding ANA expansion, especially
on long-term sustainability of the expansion and increased
requirements for military trainers. Washington is working to
respond to these questions and concerns.


3. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Posts should: (1) thank host
governments for existing Afghanistan support; (2) reiterate
points made in REFTELS on the need for an expanded Afghan
National Army and continued deployment of military and
civilian resources to Afghanistan; and (3) emphasize the need
for international support so the Government of Afghanistan
can fulfill their mandate consistent with the Afghanistan
Compact, of meeting Afghanistan's security needs, and make
the targeted asks below. Posts should note that requests for
Forces (ref A) remain in effect and that while this specific
demarche does not include further requests for pressing on
new deployments or troop increases, that those requirements

remain important to success in Afghanistan.

--------------
BEGIN TARGETED ASKS
--------------

-- Paris: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Given its combat troop contributions and
budgetary challenges, donations from France may be difficult,
but highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate
leadership by making early contributions.

-- Rome: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Given Italy's combat troop contributions and
budget cuts, donations from Italy may be difficult but
highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate leadership
by making early contributions, even if they are not large.

-- Berlin: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Germany has recently taken positive steps to
improve their posture in Afghanistan by considering an
increase to their in-country troop ceiling to 4,500 in
October and offering to take part in Focused District
Development.

-- Ottawa: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. As Canada looks to shift its role from
primarily combat to primarily training in 2011, contributions
to Afghan National Army sustainment would be in line with
Ottawa's policy.

-- London: Ask for $100 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Given the UK's troop contributions and budget
challenges, donations from the UK may be difficult but
highlight the need for key Allies to demonstrate leadership
by making early contributions.

-- Madrid: Ask for $50 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. As other key Allies such as France, Germany,
and Italy do more in Afghanistan - by deploying more troops
and trainers, increasing funding, and easing caveats - urge
Spain to do the same.

-- Ankara: Ask for $40 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Prime Minister Erdogan and Defense Minister
Gonul have indicated openness to do more on training, and we
should encourage funding and trainers for the ANA as ideal
means of supporting Afghanistan.

-- Stockholm: Ask for $40 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Oslo: Ask for $35 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Athens: Ask for $30 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Copenhagen: Ask for $25 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Denmark recently released a new Afghanistan
strategy outlining commitment for financial assistance to
Afghanistan that received broad political support.
Incorporating contributions to support sustainment of the ANA
would complement their proposals.

-- Helsinki: Ask for $20 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- The Hague: Ask for $20 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. A significant contribution would balance the
Netherlands' planned reduction of its military contribution
to ISAF in 2010.

-- Bern: Ask for $10 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Brussels: Ask for $10 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Encourage donations as an important
complement to Belgium's recent deployment of an Operational
Mentoring and Liaison Team to train the ANA.

-- Luxembourg: Ask for $4 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Lisbon: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. While we acknowledge that serious discussion
of returning Portugal's elite Quick Reaction Force to
Afghanistan is not possible prior to the 2009 elections, in
the meantime contributing to the ANA would send a continued
message of support along with other troop contributions.

-- Dublin: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army.

-- Vienna: Ask for $2 million per year from 2010-2014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Given the small size of Austria's potential
contribution and the quality of their military and police
force, consider prioritizing requests for trainers over
funding.

-- Reykjavik: Ask for $1 million per year from 2010-1014 in
additional funding for sustainment of the expanded Afghan
National Army. Given Iceland's extreme sensitivity to
appearing to support military operations, providing funding
for ANA sustainment (logistics, training, medical support,
etc.) could be an effective means of support the
international effort.

-- For Tirana, Sofia, Zagreb, Prague, Tallinn, Budapest,
Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Bucharest, Bratislava, and Ljubljana:
In the interest of Alliance solidarity ask for donations to
help sustain the expansion of the Afghan National Army. Urge
these Allies to prioritize troops and trainers over money
donations.

-- Skopje and Baku: In the interest of international
solidarity ask for donations to help sustain the expansion of
the Afghan National Army. Urge these Allies to prioritize
troops and trainers over money donations.


4. (C) Posts should report results by October 1, flagged for
SCA/A Tom Reott and EUR/RPM Raphael Carland.
RICE