LIMITING VISITOR TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS KABUL 004190 DEPARTMENT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, H, S/CRS STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA USFOR-A FOR POLAD NSC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT FBI CIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AF AMGT SUBJECT: LIMITING VISITOR TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN FOR NEAR TERM REF: A. DEC 21 GEN MCCHRYSTAL LETTER TO CENTCOM COMMANDER; B: STATE 128095; C: ISLAMABAD 3010 ¶1. (SBU) We request all agencies' support to postpone all executive branch travel that is not both urgent and strictly necessary, to limit the number and duration of visits, and to reduce the size of delegations to Afghanistan from January through June 2010. Our request complements and supports the letter issued by COMISAF General McChrystal on December 21 (https://kabulcollaboration.state.gov/ sites/sbu/exec/default.aspx) urging that travel to theater be deferred until after June 2010 and Islamabad's similar request to limit travel to Pakistan (Reftel C). ¶2. (SBU) We are giving priority to Congressional Delegations, and are devoting substantial logistical and human resources to this effort. The Embassy faces an unprecedented volume of Executive and Congressional visit requests, in particular throughout January and early February. We are substantially increasing support resources (beds, vehicles, aircraft, etc.) in the coming weeks in order to cope with the sharp increase in the size of our permanent mission. Meanwhile, we are working all-out to maintain operations in a high threat environment (ALDAC Ref B described limited accommodations at Post). Embassy resources are now fully deployed, and continued or high volume of visitors will meaningfully impact our ability to carry out our core missions. ¶3. (SBU) We ask executive branch visitors' understanding of these realities, and agency headquarters' support for our mission by rigorously reviewing all prospective travel requests both for urgency and necessity. RICCIARDONE