CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AFGHANISTAN AND

UNCLAS BRAZZAVILLE 000091 DEPT FOR SCA/A TOM REOTT DEPT FOR AF/C LKORTE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS PK AF SUBJECT: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW REF: STATE 29482 ¶1. Per reftel, EmbOff met with Daniel Owassa, Secretary General, Chef du Cabinet, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of the Congo (ROC). Talking points regarding the new strategy for meeting the challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan were presented to Owassa. ¶2. In response, Owassa commented that the increase in troop levels might overshadow the increased diplomatic and development efforts called for in the new strategy. Owassa suggested the real war against terror would be fought in the hearts and minds of the Afghan and Pakistani people. According to his assessment, as long as the U.S. was perceived as an occupying force there would always be new volunteers ready to join the Taliban. EmbOff responded that development could not succeed in the absence of security and reminded Owassa of the important development role played by military forces. EASTHAM