Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN592
2009-05-19 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
URGENT REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON U.S. AIR FORCE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #0592 1391604 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191604Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4140 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 9850 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0573 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0973 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000592
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO GM
SUBJECT: URGENT REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON U.S. AIR FORCE
COMBAT AIR FORCES RESTRUCTURING PLAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JOHN KOENIG. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000592
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO GM
SUBJECT: URGENT REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON U.S. AIR FORCE
COMBAT AIR FORCES RESTRUCTURING PLAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JOHN KOENIG. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) This is an urgent action request. See para 3.
2. (C) U.S. Air Force Public Affairs in Washington issued a
press release on May 18, announcing plans to retire
approximately 250 aircraft from the U.S. inventory, including
18 F-16s currently deployed at SpangQQQxQQ_Qx0!Q]-QHt German authorities could
claim that we are not
abiding by our long-standing commitment to pre-notify such
force changes via the host nation notification procedures
outlined in CJCS Staff Instruction 2300.02E, dated 29
February 2008.
3. (C) We therefore request immediate guidance on how we
should explain and characterize the U.S. Air Force
announcement so that any potential misunderstandings
concerning the planned withdrawal of the F-16 squadron at
Spangdahlem can be avoided. We also seek instructions
enabling us to reaffirm to the German authorities that we
will follow established host nation notification procedures
in this case and other possible cases in the future.
Koenig
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO GM
SUBJECT: URGENT REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON U.S. AIR FORCE
COMBAT AIR FORCES RESTRUCTURING PLAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JOHN KOENIG. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) This is an urgent action request. See para 3.
2. (C) U.S. Air Force Public Affairs in Washington issued a
press release on May 18, announcing plans to retire
approximately 250 aircraft from the U.S. inventory, including
18 F-16s currently deployed at SpangQQQxQQ_Qx0!Q]-QHt German authorities could
claim that we are not
abiding by our long-standing commitment to pre-notify such
force changes via the host nation notification procedures
outlined in CJCS Staff Instruction 2300.02E, dated 29
February 2008.
3. (C) We therefore request immediate guidance on how we
should explain and characterize the U.S. Air Force
announcement so that any potential misunderstandings
concerning the planned withdrawal of the F-16 squadron at
Spangdahlem can be avoided. We also seek instructions
enabling us to reaffirm to the German authorities that we
will follow established host nation notification procedures
in this case and other possible cases in the future.
Koenig