GOC PROVIDES LETTER CONFIRMING "PSI BATTALION"

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000298 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/C AND S/USSES DOD/OSD FOR DASD HUDDLESTON NSC FOR GAVIN LONDON FOR POL - LORD PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MASS PGOV PHUM PREF CD SUBJECT: GOC PROVIDES LETTER CONFIRMING "PSI BATTALION" UNDER CHIEF OF JOINT STAFF, PER USG REQUEST REF: A. POST-AF/C JULY 17 EMAIL ¶B. NDJAMENA 248 ¶1. (SBU) VISITING DASD HUDDLESTON ASKED DEFMIN KAMOUGUE JULY 6 FOR DOCUMENTARY CONFIRMATION OF HIS ASSURANCES THAT THE CHADIAN ARMY'S COUNTER-TERRORISM UNIT (AKA "PSI BATTALION") HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF THE CHIEF OF JOINT STAFF OF THE CHAD MILITARY. ¶2. (SBU) ON JULY 8, THE EMBASSY DELIVERED THE AMBASSADOR'S LETTER TO DEFMIN KAMOUGUE FORMALLY REQUESTING SUCH DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. ¶3. (SBU) ON JULY 16, THE EMBASSY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DEFMIN KAMOUGUE PROVIDING SUCH DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. THE LETTER WAS SCANNED AND SENT TO AF/C ON JULY 17. THE EMBASSY'S INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF THE LETTER IS BELOW IN PARA FIVE. ¶4. (SBU) THE CHIEF OF JOINT STAFF IS GENERAL HASSAN SALEH ALDJINEDI, WHO HAS NOT BEEN VETTED FOR TRAINING BY THE EMBASSY. ¶5. (SBU) DEFMIN LETTER: -------------- BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: -------------- July 16, 2009 Ndjamena, Chad H.E. Louis J. Nigro Ambassador of the United States of America Ndjamena, Chad Subject: The Attachment of the Counter Terrorism Battalion under the Command of the General Chief of Army Staff. During your visit dated July 6, 2009, accompanied by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, we have had a very fruitful conversation regarding the military cooperation between our two Governments. Moreover, regarding the restructuring of the chain-of-command of the Counter Terrorism Battalion (PSI) and its placement under the Command of the General Chief of Army Staff, I have the honor to formally confirm this change in the chain-of-command of the Counter-Terrorism Battalion. Kindly accept, Your Excellency Mr. Ambassador, my distinguished consideration. /SIGNED/ Kamougue Wadal Abdelkader, The Minister of Defense -------------- END TEXT OF LETTER: -------------- ¶6. (U) Minimize Considered. NIGRO