Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA1042
2009-11-25 09:25:00
SECRET
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8136 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBY #1042 3290925 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 250925Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2348 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE IMMEDIATE 6797 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH IMMEDIATE 5063 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY IMMEDIATE 5065 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0878 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0852
S E C R E T CANBERRA 001042
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P, EAP, SCA
PACOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL
AFGHANISTAN CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
S E C R E T CANBERRA 001042
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P, EAP, SCA
PACOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL
AFGHANISTAN CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
1. (S) Summary: DCM delivered on November 25 reftel points
to Prime Minister Rudd's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ric
Smith and Deputy National Security Adviser Angus Campbell.
Both Smith and Campbell had been previously briefed on an
unclassified version of reftel points during a
regularly-scheduled video conference with U.S. National
Security Adviser Jones. They expressed appreciation for the
briefings and said Australia would make a strong statement of
support and that Prime Minister Rudd was exploring ways to
make additional contributions including through increasing
the number of staff officers embedded in ISAF headquarters.
End Summary.
2. (S) Deputy Chief of Mission Clune on November 25 told
Prime Minister Rudd's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ric Smith
and Australian Deputy National Security Adviser Duncan
Campbell in separate meetings that the United States would be
announcing a way forward on Afghanistan and Pakistan prior to
the December 3-4 NATO Ministerial in Brussels. Though we did
not have the details, we expected the roll out to include a
robust additional military and civilian contribution to
Afghanistan. The United States would appreciate a strong
public expression of political support from our allies as a
signal of ISAF unity as well as concrete contributions,
including civilian and development assistance. DCM Clune
left non-paper as outlined in paragraph five of reftel.
3. (S) Deputy NSA Campbell said the Australian government
had been studying ways to make additional contributions in
Afghanistan. Increasing its civilian contribution was a
problem for Australia as they did not have the force to
protect an increased number of civilians. However, they will
continue to consult among the different government agencies
and expected to present a proposal to their ministers in
mid-January in time for the AUSMIN consultations. Campbell
noted that when Prime Minister Rudd visited Afghanistan three
weeks ago he had offered to embed additional Australian staff
officers in ISAF headquarters.
4. (S) Special Envoy Smith noted that Australia had already
announced a significant increase of troops earlier in the
year but that Prime Minister Rudd was interested in
augmenting Australia's contribution including through
expanding the number of staff officers embedded in ISAF
headquarters, more funding for police training, and
increasing its civilian advisers in Oruzgan province. Smith
echoed Campbell's concerns about increasing Australia's
civilian contribution, saying Australia "did not have a
culture of deploying civilians into a war zone."
5. (S) Smith had just returned from a visit to Oruzgan and
described the ISAF/NATO, UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan, and Afghan government presence as a "wobbly
three-legged stool." He said increasing funds for police
Qthree-legged stool." He said increasing funds for police
training in Oruzgan might be "putting good money into a bad
situation" because the local population perceived the police
to be part of the problem and because of difficulties
retaining trained personnel.
BLEICH
SIPDIS
STATE FOR P, EAP, SCA
PACOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MOPS AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL
AFGHANISTAN CONTRIBUTIONS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons: 1.4 (
b),(d)
1. (S) Summary: DCM delivered on November 25 reftel points
to Prime Minister Rudd's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ric
Smith and Deputy National Security Adviser Angus Campbell.
Both Smith and Campbell had been previously briefed on an
unclassified version of reftel points during a
regularly-scheduled video conference with U.S. National
Security Adviser Jones. They expressed appreciation for the
briefings and said Australia would make a strong statement of
support and that Prime Minister Rudd was exploring ways to
make additional contributions including through increasing
the number of staff officers embedded in ISAF headquarters.
End Summary.
2. (S) Deputy Chief of Mission Clune on November 25 told
Prime Minister Rudd's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ric Smith
and Australian Deputy National Security Adviser Duncan
Campbell in separate meetings that the United States would be
announcing a way forward on Afghanistan and Pakistan prior to
the December 3-4 NATO Ministerial in Brussels. Though we did
not have the details, we expected the roll out to include a
robust additional military and civilian contribution to
Afghanistan. The United States would appreciate a strong
public expression of political support from our allies as a
signal of ISAF unity as well as concrete contributions,
including civilian and development assistance. DCM Clune
left non-paper as outlined in paragraph five of reftel.
3. (S) Deputy NSA Campbell said the Australian government
had been studying ways to make additional contributions in
Afghanistan. Increasing its civilian contribution was a
problem for Australia as they did not have the force to
protect an increased number of civilians. However, they will
continue to consult among the different government agencies
and expected to present a proposal to their ministers in
mid-January in time for the AUSMIN consultations. Campbell
noted that when Prime Minister Rudd visited Afghanistan three
weeks ago he had offered to embed additional Australian staff
officers in ISAF headquarters.
4. (S) Special Envoy Smith noted that Australia had already
announced a significant increase of troops earlier in the
year but that Prime Minister Rudd was interested in
augmenting Australia's contribution including through
expanding the number of staff officers embedded in ISAF
headquarters, more funding for police training, and
increasing its civilian advisers in Oruzgan province. Smith
echoed Campbell's concerns about increasing Australia's
civilian contribution, saying Australia "did not have a
culture of deploying civilians into a war zone."
5. (S) Smith had just returned from a visit to Oruzgan and
described the ISAF/NATO, UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan, and Afghan government presence as a "wobbly
three-legged stool." He said increasing funds for police
Qthree-legged stool." He said increasing funds for police
training in Oruzgan might be "putting good money into a bad
situation" because the local population perceived the police
to be part of the problem and because of difficulties
retaining trained personnel.
BLEICH