Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON288
2009-02-02 11:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
HMG HAS DEPLOYED NTMI ASSESSMENT TEAM TO BAGHDAD;
how-toVZCZCXRO0677 PP RUEHSR DE RUEHLO #0288 0331154 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021154Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1258 INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1276 RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0745 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0230 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0838 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 0162 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA 0285 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1359 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000288
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM - DAVY, EUR/WE; USNATO FOR ERICKSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO IZ UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS DEPLOYED NTMI ASSESSMENT TEAM TO BAGHDAD;
WANTS TO KEEP AR RUSTAMIYAH OPEN
REF: 08 LONDON 2441
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills Jr. for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000288
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM - DAVY, EUR/WE; USNATO FOR ERICKSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO IZ UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS DEPLOYED NTMI ASSESSMENT TEAM TO BAGHDAD;
WANTS TO KEEP AR RUSTAMIYAH OPEN
REF: 08 LONDON 2441
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills Jr. for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) The UK remains "as committed as ever to the NTMI
mission and concept," according to MOD Deputy Director for
Joint Commitments Daniel Hughes. To that end, a five person
"Planning and Doctrine" team, headed by a full Colonel, has
been dispatched from London to NTMI Baghdad. The team is to
review the program, check that assumptions about training are
valid and that plans are meeting Iraqi needs. The team will
issue a report in 4-6 weeks, with recommendations on next
steps, i.e., who is to be trained, who will do the training,
what skillsets they will require, how many trainers are
required and how long will they need to stay.
2. (C) Concerning the NTMI training academy at Ar
Rustamiyah, Hughes said that the current plan is to pull out
NTMI personnel in conjunction with the upcoming closing of
the US FOB. According to Hughes, HMG thinks this is the
wrong move at this time. In Hughes' view it would be nearly
impossible to keep up an efficient training regime by
helocoptering in and out on an irregular basis. He
emphasized that with an enhanced private guard unit, a
platoon of military personnel, and some equipment transfer
from the FOB (he specifically mentioned IDF alarm hardware
and software) the NTMI trainers could remain safely. Hughes
said this view is based on an on the ground assessment he and
a team of UK military undertook recently. He noted one
problem with the plan - the UK would be unlikely to offer up
much of the money or manpower to keep the facility open, so
it would be a question of asking member states for funds and
for an American platoon for force protection.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/RPM - DAVY, EUR/WE; USNATO FOR ERICKSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO IZ UK
SUBJECT: HMG HAS DEPLOYED NTMI ASSESSMENT TEAM TO BAGHDAD;
WANTS TO KEEP AR RUSTAMIYAH OPEN
REF: 08 LONDON 2441
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard M. Mills Jr. for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) The UK remains "as committed as ever to the NTMI
mission and concept," according to MOD Deputy Director for
Joint Commitments Daniel Hughes. To that end, a five person
"Planning and Doctrine" team, headed by a full Colonel, has
been dispatched from London to NTMI Baghdad. The team is to
review the program, check that assumptions about training are
valid and that plans are meeting Iraqi needs. The team will
issue a report in 4-6 weeks, with recommendations on next
steps, i.e., who is to be trained, who will do the training,
what skillsets they will require, how many trainers are
required and how long will they need to stay.
2. (C) Concerning the NTMI training academy at Ar
Rustamiyah, Hughes said that the current plan is to pull out
NTMI personnel in conjunction with the upcoming closing of
the US FOB. According to Hughes, HMG thinks this is the
wrong move at this time. In Hughes' view it would be nearly
impossible to keep up an efficient training regime by
helocoptering in and out on an irregular basis. He
emphasized that with an enhanced private guard unit, a
platoon of military personnel, and some equipment transfer
from the FOB (he specifically mentioned IDF alarm hardware
and software) the NTMI trainers could remain safely. Hughes
said this view is based on an on the ground assessment he and
a team of UK military undertook recently. He noted one
problem with the plan - the UK would be unlikely to offer up
much of the money or manpower to keep the facility open, so
it would be a question of asking member states for funds and
for an American platoon for force protection.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON