Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME1309
2009-11-25 17:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
AFGHANISTAN: ITALY CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0278 PP RUEHSL DE RUEHRO #1309 3291751 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251751Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2943 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0560 RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 3906 RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN PRIORITY 0340 RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 4121 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 3064 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001309
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE ON
REQUEST FOR TROOPS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001309
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE ON
REQUEST FOR TROOPS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Ambassador Thorne delivered Reftel points to Gianni
Letta, Chief Undersecretary to PM Berlusconi, on November 24.
Letta took the message on board, and thanked the Ambassador
for the heads up on the pending USG decision and "asks" for
new resources. Following the NSA Jones discussion with
NSA-equivalent Bruno Archi, DCM followed up with Archi to
confirm that the "ask" for Italy was 1,500 additional combat
troops.
2. (C) Pol M/C delivered the points to FM Frattini's Chief
of Staff, Alain Economides and to MOD Political Adviser
Alessandro Ruben. Economides (who had been briefed on the
Jones-Archi discussion) forebore comment on the particulars
of the "ask," saying that it would take "some time" for the
GOI to determine its response, but that the GOI would look to
"send a political signal of support" for President Obama
"soon." Economides underlined that PM Berlusconi hoped to
speak to the President, as the GOI wanted to "make the
decision in consultation with the U.S."
3. (C) Separately, MOD Advisor Ruben underlined that the
GOI was ready to contribute more in Afghanistan, but urgently
needed to see the U.S. way forward spelled out in detail so
that Italian policymakers could explain any troop increase to
the public and Parliament, particularly in light of the
recent decision to maintain Italian troop levels in Lebanon
at higher than anticipated levels. Rubin pointedly said that
Italy had recently done as the U.S. had requested, in keeping
troop levels high in Lebanon, despite the planned turnover to
Spanish command of UNIFIL and in the absence of a decision by
Spain to substantially plus up its troops. He suggested
Italy might have to revisit the UNIFIL troop levels in light
of any large new demands for Afghanistan. Ruben emphasized
that a very large new request (Note: This conversation
occurred prior to the Jones-Archi discussion.) would have a
substantially better chance of success if accompanied by
senior level visits from Washington or, at minimum, a phone
call from President Obama to PM Berlusconi.
4. (C) PM Berlusconi, joined by FM Frattini and MinDef La
Russa, will meet with NATO SYG Rasmussen at 1700 today.
Following a ministerial meeting with Berlusconi at 1300 today
to discuss resources for Afghanistan, La Russa advisor Ruben
(please strictly protect) called Pol M/C to confirm that the
figure now "on the table" before GOI decision-makers was an
additional 1,000. He cautioned that there was nothing
certain about this figure as an outcome, that it would be
quite difficult for the GOI to afford such an increase and
underlined that the final decision would require substantial
political pressure (i.e., from the U.S.).
THORNE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: ITALY CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTIVE ON
REQUEST FOR TROOPS
REF: STATE 120807
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons
1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Ambassador Thorne delivered Reftel points to Gianni
Letta, Chief Undersecretary to PM Berlusconi, on November 24.
Letta took the message on board, and thanked the Ambassador
for the heads up on the pending USG decision and "asks" for
new resources. Following the NSA Jones discussion with
NSA-equivalent Bruno Archi, DCM followed up with Archi to
confirm that the "ask" for Italy was 1,500 additional combat
troops.
2. (C) Pol M/C delivered the points to FM Frattini's Chief
of Staff, Alain Economides and to MOD Political Adviser
Alessandro Ruben. Economides (who had been briefed on the
Jones-Archi discussion) forebore comment on the particulars
of the "ask," saying that it would take "some time" for the
GOI to determine its response, but that the GOI would look to
"send a political signal of support" for President Obama
"soon." Economides underlined that PM Berlusconi hoped to
speak to the President, as the GOI wanted to "make the
decision in consultation with the U.S."
3. (C) Separately, MOD Advisor Ruben underlined that the
GOI was ready to contribute more in Afghanistan, but urgently
needed to see the U.S. way forward spelled out in detail so
that Italian policymakers could explain any troop increase to
the public and Parliament, particularly in light of the
recent decision to maintain Italian troop levels in Lebanon
at higher than anticipated levels. Rubin pointedly said that
Italy had recently done as the U.S. had requested, in keeping
troop levels high in Lebanon, despite the planned turnover to
Spanish command of UNIFIL and in the absence of a decision by
Spain to substantially plus up its troops. He suggested
Italy might have to revisit the UNIFIL troop levels in light
of any large new demands for Afghanistan. Ruben emphasized
that a very large new request (Note: This conversation
occurred prior to the Jones-Archi discussion.) would have a
substantially better chance of success if accompanied by
senior level visits from Washington or, at minimum, a phone
call from President Obama to PM Berlusconi.
4. (C) PM Berlusconi, joined by FM Frattini and MinDef La
Russa, will meet with NATO SYG Rasmussen at 1700 today.
Following a ministerial meeting with Berlusconi at 1300 today
to discuss resources for Afghanistan, La Russa advisor Ruben
(please strictly protect) called Pol M/C to confirm that the
figure now "on the table" before GOI decision-makers was an
additional 1,000. He cautioned that there was nothing
certain about this figure as an outcome, that it would be
quite difficult for the GOI to afford such an increase and
underlined that the final decision would require substantial
political pressure (i.e., from the U.S.).
THORNE