Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08WARSAW102
2008-01-24 16:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:
POLAND: SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO0138 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHFL RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHWR #0102 0241611 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241611Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5813 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM, NEA, EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
REQUIREMENTS
REF: A. SECSTATE 04865
B. WARSAW 2188
Classified By: DCM Kenneth M. Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 000102
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM, NEA, EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
REQUIREMENTS
REF: A. SECSTATE 04865
B. WARSAW 2188
Classified By: DCM Kenneth M. Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) In accordance with ref A, poloff engaged Polish
diplomats, Juliusz Gojlo, Iraq Desk, and Piotr Erenfeicht,
NATO Operations Action Officer, on the future of Polish
engagement in Iraq, its legal basis and the possibility of a
Defense Cooperation Agreement. The Polish government has
declared its intent to withdraw all 900 Polish troops
participating in the Multinational Corp Iraq (MNC-I) by
October 31, 2008. Detailed planning for this movement is
already underway, with appropriate U.S. authorities involved.
However, Polish diplomats report that this exit will not
include Polish participation in the NATO Training Mission in
Iraq (NTM-I). They expect that Polish participation in NTM-I
will grow and suggest that an "invitation" from the
Government of Iraq to NATO would provide sufficient legal
basis absent a United Nations Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR).
2. (C) The 10th rotation (TOA planned for January/February
2008) will remain at approximately 900 troops and will
continue the stabilization mission with the goal of turning
its sector over to Iraqi control as soon as possible. PM
Tusk and MinDef Klich have both stated that withdrawal of the
Polish contingent will be coordinated with the U.S. and other
coalition partners to ensure successful transfer to Iraqi
control; however, the actual date to begin withdrawal of
Polish troops has not yet been established. Polish officials
remain emphatic that the withdrawal of Polish troops must be
complete by 31 October 2008.
3. (C) Poland will remain engaged in the NTM-I even after it
departs MND-CS. According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Poland will increase its NTM-I troop strength from 2
to 20 in 2008. In 2009, MFA anticipates "even more" Polish
participation. MFA understands that a Chapter VII United
Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) now provides
legal basis for the NTM-I deployment and that Iraq does not
intend to renew the current UNSCR. From Poland's point of
view, an invitation from the Government of Iraq to NATO would
offer sufficient legal basis to sustain NTM-I and allow
Polish participation.
4. (C) MFA lacked interest in a Defense Cooperation Agreement
(DCA) with Iraq. In Poland, international "agreements"
require parliamentary approval, so a DCA could take months to
clear legislative hurdles. Moreover, in domestic politics,
the Prime Minister's promise to pull out of Iraq by October
31 has played very well. Consequently, public debate over a
DCA might play poorly. Instead, MFA expressed a clear
preference to remain engaged under the NATO rubric; an option
already proven palatable to the Polish public.
ASHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM, NEA, EUR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ PL
SUBJECT: POLAND: SECOND SURVEY OF IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
REQUIREMENTS
REF: A. SECSTATE 04865
B. WARSAW 2188
Classified By: DCM Kenneth M. Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) In accordance with ref A, poloff engaged Polish
diplomats, Juliusz Gojlo, Iraq Desk, and Piotr Erenfeicht,
NATO Operations Action Officer, on the future of Polish
engagement in Iraq, its legal basis and the possibility of a
Defense Cooperation Agreement. The Polish government has
declared its intent to withdraw all 900 Polish troops
participating in the Multinational Corp Iraq (MNC-I) by
October 31, 2008. Detailed planning for this movement is
already underway, with appropriate U.S. authorities involved.
However, Polish diplomats report that this exit will not
include Polish participation in the NATO Training Mission in
Iraq (NTM-I). They expect that Polish participation in NTM-I
will grow and suggest that an "invitation" from the
Government of Iraq to NATO would provide sufficient legal
basis absent a United Nations Security Council Resolution
(UNSCR).
2. (C) The 10th rotation (TOA planned for January/February
2008) will remain at approximately 900 troops and will
continue the stabilization mission with the goal of turning
its sector over to Iraqi control as soon as possible. PM
Tusk and MinDef Klich have both stated that withdrawal of the
Polish contingent will be coordinated with the U.S. and other
coalition partners to ensure successful transfer to Iraqi
control; however, the actual date to begin withdrawal of
Polish troops has not yet been established. Polish officials
remain emphatic that the withdrawal of Polish troops must be
complete by 31 October 2008.
3. (C) Poland will remain engaged in the NTM-I even after it
departs MND-CS. According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Poland will increase its NTM-I troop strength from 2
to 20 in 2008. In 2009, MFA anticipates "even more" Polish
participation. MFA understands that a Chapter VII United
Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) now provides
legal basis for the NTM-I deployment and that Iraq does not
intend to renew the current UNSCR. From Poland's point of
view, an invitation from the Government of Iraq to NATO would
offer sufficient legal basis to sustain NTM-I and allow
Polish participation.
4. (C) MFA lacked interest in a Defense Cooperation Agreement
(DCA) with Iraq. In Poland, international "agreements"
require parliamentary approval, so a DCA could take months to
clear legislative hurdles. Moreover, in domestic politics,
the Prime Minister's promise to pull out of Iraq by October
31 has played very well. Consequently, public debate over a
DCA might play poorly. Instead, MFA expressed a clear
preference to remain engaged under the NATO rubric; an option
already proven palatable to the Polish public.
ASHE