Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE99182
2008-09-16 22:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE: REVISED CIV-MIL CELL CONCEPT FOR

Tags:  AF MARR MOPS NATO PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9182 2602307
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 162259Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 0000
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0000
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0000
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0000
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN PRIORITY 0000
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0000
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0000
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 099182 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: AF MARR MOPS NATO PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: REVISED CIV-MIL CELL CONCEPT FOR
REGIONAL COMMAND - SOUTH PARTNERS

REF: STATE 85097

Classified By: Acting DAS Nerissa Cook for reasons 1.4(b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 099182

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: AF MARR MOPS NATO PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: REVISED CIV-MIL CELL CONCEPT FOR
REGIONAL COMMAND - SOUTH PARTNERS

REF: STATE 85097

Classified By: Acting DAS Nerissa Cook for reasons 1.4(b,d)


1. (C) This is an action cable, see para 3.


2. (C) BACKGROUND: On September 13, 2008, the Deputies
Committee endorsed the circulation of a revised concept
paper among Allies and Partners with troops in Regional
Command - South in Afghanistan, which outlines a proposed
Civil-Military Planning and Coordination Cell. Posts
delivered to Capitals an earlier version of the concept
paper (reftel) on or after August 7. Based on responses
from Posts and the results of a Defense Department survey
team trip to Afghanistan in August, Washington has
modified the concept paper and now seeks further Allied
and Partner input. Additionally, Secretary Gates will
likely raise this issue on the margins of the NATO Defense
Ministerial scheduled for September 18-19.


3. (SBU) ACTION: Posts should draw from the points below
while delivering the accompanying revised non-paper to
appropriate officials in the capitals of Regional Command
- South Allies and Partners. Posts should report demarche
responses slugged to EUR/RPM Raphael Carland and SCA/A Tom
Reott no later than Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

--------------
BEGIN TALKING POINTS
--------------
-- We strongly support the creation of a Civil-Military
Planning and Coordination Cell at Regional Command - South
Headquarters and hope our Allies and Partners can support
this concept as well.

-- We appreciate the valuable comments that Regional
Command - South Allies and Partners have provided in
response to our initial proposal. Many of these ideas
have been incorporated into the revised non-paper, and we
believe they have strengthened the concept.

-- We believe it is important to move quickly, however,
and we would like to achieve consensus among Regional
Command - South contributors on the concept by October 1
in order for the Civil-Military Cell to begin operating in
some capacity by November 1, 2008.

-- The U.S. will provide civilian personnel to serve in
the cell, initially through temporary measures, although

our intent is to find a long-term solution. In order to
get the cell up and running, however, we urge Allies and
Partners to be creative in identifying and deploying
civilians to the cell by the November target date.

-- We would also encourage Allies and Partners to be
flexible in their initial impressions of the cell,
allowing commanders and personnel in the field the
latitude to find the best location and precise duties for
the cell in Regional Command - South Headquarters.

-- We draw Allies' and Partners' attention particularly to
the new concept of a "steering group" composed of, among
others, senior personnel from Regional Command - South
Headquarters, the Provincial Task Forces, and the
Provincial Reconstruction Teams. We believe a "steering
group" would provide both effective regional coordination
and ensure that provincial perspectives are taken into
account at the senior level.

-- Secretary Gates is likely to discuss this revised
non-paper with fellow Regional Command - South Defense
Ministers on the margins of the London NATO Defense
Ministerial, held September 18-19.

--------------
BEGIN NON-PAPER
--------------
RC South Regional Planning & Coordination Cell
(REVISED DRAFT Concept Paper)

Many of the challenges in Southern Afghanistan are local
in effect but regional in scope. Examples include:
delivering freedom of movement across the ring route,
power generation and counter-narcotics. All operations
and activities must therefore be viewed both
comprehensively (how reconstruction, governance and
security achieve an overall effect) as well as through the
lens of regional impacts.

-- Southern Provincial Reconstruction Teams deliver
comprehensive effects in key districts in their
provinces. However, we must begin stitching together
their good work to deliver regional stability.

In order to facilitate this regional comprehensive
approach, COM RC South requires staff (at the O5 or O6
civilian equivalent level) with reconstruction and
governance expertise to shape components of regional
operations plans pertaining to military support to
governance building, development and reconstruction in
Southern Afghanistan.

-- Staff should be responsible for ensuring military
compliance with overarching strategy documents, including
the Afghan National Development Strategy. Staff should be
focused on planning that is regional in nature.

Related, the advice and expertise of senior civilians (at
the 1 and 2-star level) and other key actors in Southern
Afghanistan must be more integrated into regional-level
planning. Without these more senior-level inputs, an
RC-South civilian-military planning team will not be as
capable of synchronizing RC-South plans with developments
in the provinces and districts. As such, convening a
senior-level "steering group" will help ensure all
components of RC-South plans bolster activities in the
Provinces - and are fully synchronized with national-level
guidance.

Recommended Way Ahead (Two Parts):

Part One. Augment RC-S HQ with a group of individuals
that have governance, reconstruction, strategic
communications, and development planning expertise (3-4
individuals from several RC-South nations is sufficient
for an initial operating capability, building towards an
eventual full operating capability of 6-7 personnel).
Individuals in this cell should be at the O-5 or O-6
civilian equivalent level. This group should support RC-S
problem analysis, planning, conduct and outcomes
assessment of fully integrated "comprehensive" operations.
This will result in greater civilian input into military
activities in the region, rather than RC-South HQ
"directing" civilian activities. Through the normal
reporting chain, the planning cell should be responsible
to COM RC-S. In short, this is a commitment of at least
one individual per RC-South nation. In so doing, this
group should:

-- Coordinating with civilian-military actors in RC-South,
provide status reports to capitals on implementation of
the RC-South campaign plan and Campaign Implementation
Plan (per instruction in the RC-South Campaign
Implementation Plan).

-- Facilitate sharing of information and exchanging best
practices and lessons learned among actors in Southern
Afghanistan. (As a possible component of this work stream,
several Allies indicated an interest in bolstering
RC-South's capability to analyze political and tribal
dynamics).

-- Facilitate GIROA outreach - and support - to Provincial
and District Leadership.

-- Request GIROA and international community support and
backing for integrated regional governance, reconstruction
and development priorities.

Part Two. Related, COM RC-South should host regular
meetings of those PRT/Task Force senior civilians, Task
Force commanders and headquarters staff already in theater
to facilitate cross-provincial and cross-sectoral
coordination (per the RC-South Campaign Implementation
Plan). Individuals sitting on this steering group should
be at the 1 or 2- star level. In short, this is not
additional personnel beyond those committed to the
civilian-military planning cell articulated in proposal
one. Rather, it is a commitment of in theater Senior
Civilians' time.

-- The overall focus of this "Steering Group" - should be
to provide inputs to governance building, reconstruction,
and development components of RC-South plans and
activities.

-- This group should help identify regional priorities,
and, where possible, allocate resources to bolster
existing programs and/or establish programs where there
are none (and have been identified as a key requirement).

-- UNAMA and the Government of Afghanistan (at minimum an
IDLG representative) should be invited to participate.

-- Consulting with key actors in RC-South, the
coordination and planning cell should be responsible for
facilitating these meetings, including preparation of
agendas, logistical support, etc.
RICE