Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK3045
2009-12-02 09:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND: AMBASSADOR PREVIEWS THE PRESIDENT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO5041 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #3045 3360956 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020956Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9144 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 7746 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0220 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 3494 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0981 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 6020 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2148 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0215 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003045
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: PREL AF PK TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR PREVIEWS THE PRESIDENT'S
STRATEGY ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN TO FM KASIT
REF: STATE 122731
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
(C) The Ambassador previewed President Obama's announcement
of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan for Foreign
Minister Kasit Piromya during a December 1 meeting at the
Foreign Ministry, drawing on reftel talking points. Kasit
assured the Ambassador that Thailand supported USG strategy
in Afghanistan and Pakistan but asked how confident the USG
was in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's abilities and in the
Afghan government. FM Kasit said he had met Karzai many
times when Kasit was Ambassador to Japan (Note: Kasit was
assigned to Tokyo during 2001-2004, and represented Thailand
at Afghan Donors' Conferences held there. End Note.); he
stated he had not been impressed with the Afghan President.
Kasit commented that he did not believe that Karzai was in
control of the situation in Afghanistan and doubted how much
control Karzai had of himself. The Ambassador told Kasit
that the U.S. had to work with Karzai and highlighted that
President Obama's strategy was designed to make Afghan
government institutions more effective and accountable.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: PREL AF PK TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR PREVIEWS THE PRESIDENT'S
STRATEGY ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN TO FM KASIT
REF: STATE 122731
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
(C) The Ambassador previewed President Obama's announcement
of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan for Foreign
Minister Kasit Piromya during a December 1 meeting at the
Foreign Ministry, drawing on reftel talking points. Kasit
assured the Ambassador that Thailand supported USG strategy
in Afghanistan and Pakistan but asked how confident the USG
was in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's abilities and in the
Afghan government. FM Kasit said he had met Karzai many
times when Kasit was Ambassador to Japan (Note: Kasit was
assigned to Tokyo during 2001-2004, and represented Thailand
at Afghan Donors' Conferences held there. End Note.); he
stated he had not been impressed with the Afghan President.
Kasit commented that he did not believe that Karzai was in
control of the situation in Afghanistan and doubted how much
control Karzai had of himself. The Ambassador told Kasit
that the U.S. had to work with Karzai and highlighted that
President Obama's strategy was designed to make Afghan
government institutions more effective and accountable.
JOHN