TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR MISSION SPA2010TRP502W,

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000504 SIPDIS SOCSOUTH PLEASE PASS TO LTC OTERO, STATE FOR WHA/BSC MDASCHBACH E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2033 TAGS: PMASS PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA SUBJECT: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR MISSION SPA2010TRP502W, FY10, DEPLOYMENT OF 1ST PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS BATTALION MILITARY INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO PARAGUAY REF: COMSOCSOUTH 081938ZMAY09 Classified By: DCM Perry Holloway for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) The Ambassador, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation Paraguay (USODC),Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),US Agency for International Development (USAID),and CHOD Benitez concur with the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion Military Information Support Team (MIST) deployment as outlined here (reftel). In accordance with the TOR, the following information is provided: ¶A. (U//FOUO) Mission File Number: SPA2010TRP502W. ¶B. (S) MISSION: Upon order, 1st POB(A) deploys a Military Information Support Team (MIST) to Asuncion, Paraguay from 01 OCT 09 through 30 SEP 10, to conduct the approved Trans-Regional PSYOP Program to support stability operations whose purpose is to eliminate internal threats and deny conditions that could be exploited by terrorists, drug trafficking organizations (DTOQs),and their enablers. MIST will assist in establishing host nation control over ungoverned and under-governed spaces. MIST programs will focus on disrupting conditions that are exploited by violent extremist/IAGS activities and their enabling networks. As improving governance and supporting institution building are inexorably linked, MIST programs must supplement and augment CMO and like efforts to deny conditions that could be exploited by violent extremist/gangs/IAGS activities and their enabling networks. These programs support stability operations by conducting activities that legitimize the HN government, military, and police forces; and focus activities on the nodes and centers of gravity that will meet USSOUTHCO Country Security Cooperation Plan (CSCP) objectives, and Mission Strategic Plan (MSP) objectives of USEMB Paraguay. ¶2. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Concept of Operations: ¶A. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Main body: This is an ongoing mission. 1st POB (A) will deploy forces ISO Special Operations Command South information operations efforts, USODC Country Security Cooperation Plan objectives, and US Embassy Paraguay Mission Strategic Plans objectives ISO the US Ambassador and Public Diplomacy efforts by providing technical assistance to the designated Partner Nation (PN) unit(s) and applicable organizations, and producing/disseminating PSYOP products IAW COMSOCSOUTH directives and plans and in coordination with Country Team and the approval of the USAMB PRY. ¶B. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Total personnel deployed: NTE 4 personnel in Paraguay. Routine rotation of forces is authorized. ¶C. (S) Justification: SOCSOUTH does not have the organic assets to conduct PSYOP planning to support Public Diplomacy and FID efforts. Th MIST will align with other DOD and interagency (IA) information operation activities in order to disrupt illegal activities that support transnational narcoterrorism and terrorism operations in Paraguay. These activities will assist and enhance the partner nation in their ability to deter the establishment of illegal institutions. MIST will support the implementation of a synchronized DOD/IA, CNT, CT and rewards information program in order to achieve the objectives of the USODC Country Security Cooperation Plan, US Embassy Mission Strategic Plan, and further the USG's national strategic objectives. This mission will also assist partner nation in promotion of human rights objectives supported by SOCSOUTH. ¶3. (U//FOUO) Coordination Requirements: USODC will meet and assist at airport with customs inspections, and other concerns for main body deployments; coordinate initial meetings with Country Team and Paraguay personnel and agencies; assist with lodging reservations for mission personnel during PDSS and main body deployment request coordination for vehicles and workspace for mission; provide local area and national level threat and intelligence briefs for Paraguay to main body upon arrival; provide information on Paraguayan holidays that could impact main body, and support coordination for storage of sensitive items. MIST personnel will coordinate details of the evacuation and recovery (E/R) plan with the Joint Staff Support (J-2),SOCSOUTH, and USODC. ¶4. Human Rights (HR): HR will be addressed in accordance with Combatant Command Policy Memo, 28 Aug 96, Subject: United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) HR Policy. Deploying force members will conduct HR training and deploy with USSOUTHCOM HR Standing Orders, (CARD) SC Form 165, 01 Nov 07, IAW USSOUTHCOM Human Rights Training Program of Instruction, 19 Jun 96. ¶5. (U) Airborne/Airmobile Operations: Airborne/Airmobile operations are not authorized. ¶6. (U) Command and Control: The SOCFWD-PRY commander will have operational control (OPCON),and USODC Chief will be the Combatant Commander South designated risk determination authority and have tactical control (TACON) for Force Protection over deployed forces. Post is currently reviewing Annex A/B designations and the results could modify these command and control relationships. ¶7. (C) USODC provides the following force protection assessments for Paraguay: ¶A. (C) There are currently no active indigenous terrorist organizations in Paraguay. There are no political groups or parties that are currently active in this country that are specifically targeting U.S. interests. However, given the presence of sympathizers and support for extremist terrorist groups in the Tri-Border Area of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil visitors here cannot discount the possibility of terrorist activity, to include random acts of anti-American violence. The general threat in the designated training areas in and around Asuncion is low for domestic terrorism and high for crime. In addition, the threat is medium for transnational terrorism throughout the country. There is no known targeting of U.S. personnel. ¶B. (U) The USODC, in conjunction with the Regional Security Office (RSO),will continue with force protection assessments and will advise of any changes that could impact the training. ¶C. (U//FOUO) Status of Forces: Combatant Commander will coordinate to ensure deploying Department of Defense (DOD) personnel receive in-theater briefings concerning legal status of DOD personnel in Paraguay. Combatant Commander, as Risk Determination Authority, has approved presence of Special Operations Forces in Paraguay without SOFA protections or Administrative and Technical (A&T) status. COMSOCSOUTH delegates administrative control of deploying unit, for status purposes only, to CDR USODC Asuncion. ¶8. (S) Product Approval: PSYOP products that have substantial political or strategic implications will be forwarded to USSOUTHCOM for USD (P) approval. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) will expedite approval (with interagency coordination as required) to ensure timely availability for use. CDRUSSOUTHCOM will delegate product approval authority to: During peacetime activities, CDRSOUTHCOM delegates product approval and dissemination authority to Chief of Mission (COM). The U.S. Ambassador or his/her designated representative will have fina product approval and dissemination authority of all PSYOP products intended for dissemination during peacetime activities. During contingencies short of war, CDRUSSOUTHCOM delegates product approval to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander or equivalent. Upon shift of delegation from COM to the JTF Commander, JTF Commander or equivalent will have final product approval and dissemination authority of all PSYOP products intended for dissemination ISO the contingency operation Although the JTF CDR has final approval, all products will be coordinated with USEMB. ¶9. (U//FOUO) Public Affairs: Public affairs posture for this deployment is passive. Deployed personnel may discuss unclassified aspects of the mission outlined in specific public affairs guidance to be published. ¶10. (C) Country Team concurs with the deployment dates of October 1st 2009 - September 30th, 2010. ¶A. (U) Main location of this deployment will be Asuncion with additional locations as authorized by the SOCFWD-PRY commander and Chief, USODC in conjunction with Embassy Asuncion. ¶11. (U) A SOCFWD-PRY operations non-commissioned officer (NCO) will provide threat update upon arrival in coordination with RSO. ¶12. (U) All personnel and equipment will arrive via commercial air or contracted freight. Personnel will not arrive via military air (MILAIR without prior coordination. Country Clearance approval will only be authorized if the Department of StateQs e-Country Clearance (eCC) system is used; clearances sent via the DOD APACS system will not be approved. Any questions about the eCC can be answered by going to the following web site: https://ecc.state.gov/security/EccLogin.aspx ¶13. (U) Deploying equipment: Personnel are not authorized to deploy with weapons and must deploy with organic equipment minus weapons. Any weapons needed for Force Protection reasons will be provided by SOCFWD-PRY after approval from the USODC Chief and in accordance with the Embassy Weapons Policy. ¶14. (U) USODC POC for this deployment is Army Section Chief, Major Robert Armstrong, tel: COM (301)985-9395; DSN 294-9000 then dial 59395; cell phone 011-595-971-377-122; NIPR e-mail robert.armstrong@tcsc.southcom.mil; SIPR e-mail robert.armstrong@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil ¶15. (U) SOCFWD-PRY POC is MAJ Jason Brizek, SOCFWD-PRY Operations Officer; tel: COM 011-595-2121-3715, extension 2046; cell phone 011-595-981-300-178; NIPR e-mail Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.mil; and SIPR e-mail Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.smil.mil HOLLOWAY