Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2536
2008-09-16 09:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #2536 2600919 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 160919Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7251 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2769 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0632 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1342 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1053 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1281
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002536
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT
OSD FOR SUZANNE BASALLA AND AIKO LANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
EXPANSION
REF: A. STATE 97952
B. TOKYO 2489
C. TOKYO 2434
D. TOKYO 2400
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002536
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT
OSD FOR SUZANNE BASALLA AND AIKO LANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
EXPANSION
REF: A. STATE 97952
B. TOKYO 2489
C. TOKYO 2434
D. TOKYO 2400
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Charge d'Affaires raised points contained in Ref A
with Deputy Vice Foreign Minister for Foreign Policy Koro
Bessho on September 16 and reminded him that the United
States is still waiting for a response to our requests for
further assistance to Afghanistan, to include: CH-47 and
C-130 airlift assets; personnel contributions to Provincial
Reconstruction Teams; a medical support package; and a
five-year, USD 20 billion package to support rule of law,
justice and prison reform, as well as sustainment of Afghan
security forces. This demarche followed Charge's request to
Bessho September 9 that Japan consider redirecting to
Afghanistan Air Self Defense Force C-130 airlift assets which
are soon to be withdrawn from Iraq (Ref B.) Bessho replied
by noting once again that the current domestic political
turmoil in Japan makes it very difficult to formulate a
response to our request at this time (Refs C and D).
(COMMENT: The situation may become more clear once a new
Prime Minister takes office later this month. However, a
snap general election is also in the offing for October or
early November, and even then, it is likely the Diet will
remain badly divided on whether to provide assistance to
Afghanistan and, if so, to what extent. It is also likely
that the Japanese are stalling for time, awaiting the outcome
of the U.S. presidential election before committing to
further significant assistance for Afghanistan. END
COMMENT.)
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT
OSD FOR SUZANNE BASALLA AND AIKO LANE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS AF JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TARGETED REQUEST FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
EXPANSION
REF: A. STATE 97952
B. TOKYO 2489
C. TOKYO 2434
D. TOKYO 2400
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Charge d'Affaires raised points contained in Ref A
with Deputy Vice Foreign Minister for Foreign Policy Koro
Bessho on September 16 and reminded him that the United
States is still waiting for a response to our requests for
further assistance to Afghanistan, to include: CH-47 and
C-130 airlift assets; personnel contributions to Provincial
Reconstruction Teams; a medical support package; and a
five-year, USD 20 billion package to support rule of law,
justice and prison reform, as well as sustainment of Afghan
security forces. This demarche followed Charge's request to
Bessho September 9 that Japan consider redirecting to
Afghanistan Air Self Defense Force C-130 airlift assets which
are soon to be withdrawn from Iraq (Ref B.) Bessho replied
by noting once again that the current domestic political
turmoil in Japan makes it very difficult to formulate a
response to our request at this time (Refs C and D).
(COMMENT: The situation may become more clear once a new
Prime Minister takes office later this month. However, a
snap general election is also in the offing for October or
early November, and even then, it is likely the Diet will
remain badly divided on whether to provide assistance to
Afghanistan and, if so, to what extent. It is also likely
that the Japanese are stalling for time, awaiting the outcome
of the U.S. presidential election before committing to
further significant assistance for Afghanistan. END
COMMENT.)
SCHIEFFER