MANILA ENDORSEMENT FOR FY10 1206 PROPOSAL FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002271 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/RSP, PM/PPA (J KNOCH, S KWAK); USPACOM FOR J5; SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER KTIA MARR MASS MOPS MCAP BG CB CE ID, FJ, MY, TH, RP SUBJECT: MANILA ENDORSEMENT FOR FY10 1206 PROPOSAL FOR PACOM REGION REF: STATE 92407 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Representatives of Embassies Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Suva (for Tonga),Phnom Penh, Dhaka and Colombo (for Maldives) met with U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) representatives in Bangkok in August 2009 to finalize FY2010 regional 1206 proposals approved by PACOM with active coordination from other regional missions. This year's $97.2 million Combatant Command request includes funding for Tongan participation in military operations in Afghanistan, immediate operational requirements for the Philippines and urgent and emergent CT efforts in Maldives, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. Embassy Manila strongly endorses the regional 1206 proposals and concurs with the prioritization agreed to in the working group meeting in August in Bangkok. End Summary. A REGIONAL PROPOSAL AFFECTING THREE KEY AREAS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) DOD and State officials from Embassies Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Dhaka, Suva and Colombo, in collaboration with PACOM, developed 1206 proposals designed to promote host-nation capabilities to counter threats in the PACOM region. The FY10 proposal for 1206 includes funding for Tongan military participation in military operations in Afghanistan, and builds upon past efforts which established capacity to interdict near the Strait of Malacca and the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. This year we have also focused on emerging threats in Maldives, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. These areas are priorities in the war on terrorism in South and Southeast Asia. ¶3. (SBU) Our top FY10 CT proposals facilitate direct engagement of terrorist networks. In addition to direct engagement, a number of PACOM proposals advance the effort to build maritime domain awareness and provide synergy among maritime radar systems, including uniformity of equipment that would facilitate future interoperability among maritime security efforts. We also aim to develop command and control centers to integrate maritime intelligence and extend targeted counterterrorism capabilities while developing host-nation interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities. As mandated, human rights training will be included as part �0A;of all approved 1206 programs. ¶4. (SBU) PACOM worked with interagency representatives across South and Southeast Asia to provide a conceptual framework for individual country proposals. Early versions of the 1206 proposals were presented at the PACOM Security Assistance Conference in June for preliminary review, and all CT proposals were reviewed again at a working group in August with the participation of members across the interagency including DOS political officers, Joint Interagency Task Force-West, Offices of Defense Cooperation, and representatives from the different sections of PACOM. Subsequently, all proposals were further vetted before being approved by the PACOM Commander. The counterterrorism review criteria included: documented urgent or emergent terrorist threats; capability gaps related to terrorist threats; alignment with the Ambassador's Mission Strategic Plan and PACOM's Theater Campaign Plan; sustainable by host nation; capable of being carried out on time and within budget; consistent with program requirements; not inimical to U.S. interests (Leahy law); within host nation absorption capacity; and acceptable to partner nations. ¶5. (SBU) The result of the PACOM Security Assistance Conference in June and the working group meeting in Bangkok in August was the following list of proposed projects (in rank order): (1) Tonga, Tonga Deployment to Afghanistan (Stability Operations),$1.3 m (2) Philippines, Equipment to Support Close Air Support Operations (Counter-Terrorism),$8.0 m (3) Philippines, Force Recon Bn Marine Strike Company (CT), $9.3 m (4) Bangladesh, Multi-Mission Cooperation, Mobility, Weapons and Night Vision Devices (NVDs) (CT),$9.6 m MANILA 00002271 002 OF 003 (5) Maldives, CT and Intelligence Package (CT),$3.4 m (6) Malaysia, CT Interagency Communications (CT),$7.0 m (7) Indonesia, Helicopter Interdiction Capability (CT),$7.6 m (8) Indonesia, Naval Maritime Interdiction Capability (CT), $12.5 (9) Cambodia, National Counter Terrorism Special Force Ground Equipment (CT),$6.3 m (10) Philippines, Equipment for the Naval Special Operations Unit (CT),$6.0 m (11) Thailand, IED Site Mitigation and Forensic Tracking (Army) (CT),$2.0 m (12) Philippines, Inshore Boat Battalion (CT),$10.8 m (13) Cambodia, Maritime C3 and Coastal Watch (CT),$7.3 m (14) Cambodia, Maritime CT Unit, $6.1 m TOTAL $97.2 m ¶6. (SBU) Embassy Manila strongly endorses the regional 1206 proposals and concurs with the prioritization listed in para. ¶4. The following is a summary of Embassy Manila's proposed projects (additional information is available upon request): -- Equipment to Support Close Air Support (CAS) Operations ($8.0 m). Project Description: Provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with critical components required to augment current AFP systems and allow a precision-guided munitions (PGM) capability, including laptop computers loaded with software to program and control the weapons systems; a wireless link to the weapon guidance systems for bombs; Rockwell/Collins TALON V / UHF radios for aircraft; upgraded equipment and training for AFP Forward Air Controllers (PFAC) to support CAS operations. By providing a common, secure communication link between AFP aviation assets fitted with precision guided munitions and PFACs, the armed forces will be able to independently develop and respond to real-time actionable intelligence with their airborne weaponry. The proposed program would provide the AFP with critical components required to augment current systems to attain PGM capability, while keeping U.S. control of sensitive technology. -- Force Reconnaissance Battalion Marine Strike Company ($9.3 m). Project Description: Increase the ability of the AFP's Force Reconnaissance Battalion (FRBn) to fully integrate and operate as one of the premier Tier 1 Coast Watch South (CWS) interdiction units. Currently, the FRBn does not work with the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) or CWS, although they are outfitted with a fleet of Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) and are tactically and doctrinally matched with the JSOG mission. The FRBn Marine Strike Companies are comprised of four distinct, yet complementary elements: Direct Action Squads, Security Teams, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Teams and Sniper Teams. Provision of tailored, mission-specific packages comprised of weapons, navigation and communication equipment, night vision and personal protective gear will enable the FRBn to integrate into the JSOG. The JSOG will be immeasurably enhanced by addition of the FRBn Marine Strike Companies. This will build upon and complete the FRBn outfitting project begun with FY09 1206 funding to outfit the first FRBn Strike Company. -- Equipment for Naval Special Operation Units ($6.0 m) Project Description: Increase the ability of the AFP's Naval Special Operations Units (SOUs) to fully integrate and operate with the AFP's Joint Special Operations Group and as one of the premier Coast Watch South interdiction units. Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) will provide a flexible, inexpensive and easily maintained platform from which naval SOU's can conduct near-shore interdiction and vessel boarding search and seizure, combined reconnaissance and surveillance, and littoral insertion and extraction. CRRC's are easily integrated into the current Philippine Navy 78-foot Patrol Craft platform for rapid deployment and increased range of operations. Integrated weapons, navigation and communications equipment will make the naval SOU's extremely effective interdiction and apprehension platforms. MANILA 00002271 003 OF 003 -- Inshore Boat Battalion ($10.8 m) Project Description: Provide U.S. Marine Corps Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURC) for riverine and inshore patrols, insert and extract operations, and blockade missions to the Inshore Boat Battalion (IBBn). The IBBn is primarily deployed to the Western Mindanao Command. The SURC will allow IBBn to operate in two feet of water and land Marines onshore or conduct intercept and boarding operations in Sea State 3. The package will include crew served weapons, night vision, GPS and radar navigation, secure communications and personal team equipment. SUPPORTS KEY U.S. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Combating terrorism and promoting regional stability in South and Southeast Asia are key U.S. national priorities and Section 1206 assistance is a central component of USG efforts to achieve these objectives. ¶8. (SBU) Our FY10 1206 proposal would provide essential counter-terrorism capabilities to key partner nations in the region and would afford the United States unique opportunities to influence and shape a regional counter terrorism strategy. Most immediately, it would provide a capability to disrupt violent extremist organizations such as Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf Group, and other terrorist organizations. The proposed projects seek to complement and support planned and existing multilateral efforts, such as the Department's Regional Strategic Initiative and trilateral maritime security talks between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. LEAHY VETTING -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Embassy Manila affirms that it is not aware of any credible evidence of gross violations of human rights by any units which would receive assistance under the 1206 project proposals listed in para. 4. Embassy Manila also acknowledges the requirement to undertake Leahy vetting for all units, if the projects are funded, per normal foreign assistance procedures (as requested in para. 11 of Reftel). POINTS OF CONTACT -------------- ¶10. (U) For PACOM, please contact: CDR Gerry Job Phone: 808-477-0928 Unclass Gerald.job@pacom.mil Classified Gerald.job@pacom.smil.mil, or MAJ Robert Hawthorne Phone: 808-477-9539 Unclass robert.hawthorne@pacom.mil Classified Robert.hawthorne@pacom.smil.mil, or MAJ Tom Stevenson Phone: 808-477-0943 Unclass Thomas.m.stevenson@pacom.mil Classified Thomas.stevenson@pacom.smil.mil For Embassy Manila, please contact: Peter Hemsch Phone: 63-2-301-2000 x6305 Unclass hemschpg@state.gov Classified hemschpg@state.sgov.gov KENNEY