Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE30044
2009-03-28 00:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON ON AFGHANISTAN
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UNCLAS STATE 030044
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CLINTON HILLARY RODHAM PREL PROP AF PK
SUBJECT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY CLINTON ON AFGHANISTAN
AND PAKISTAN
THE FOLLOWING IS A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY TO
ALL STATE DEPARTMENT AND USAID PERSONNEL:
DEAR COLLEAGUES:
TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED A NEW STRATEGY TO GUIDE
U.S. POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN. THIS STRATEGY
FOCUSES OUR EFFORTS TOWARD MEETING A CORE GOAL: TO
DISRUPT, DISMANTLE AND DEFEAT AL QAEDA AND ITS SAFE
HAVENS IN PAKISTAN, AND TO PREVENT THEIR RETURN TO
AFGHANISTAN OR PAKISTAN.
WE ARE PURSUING THIS GOAL BECAUSE THE U.S. HAS A VITAL
INTEREST IN THE STABILITY OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.
IF LEFT ALONE, THE THREATS EMANATING FROM THAT REGION
ENDANGER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES
AROUND THE WORLD.
THEREFORE, AS THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR, MEETING OUR CORE
GOAL REQUIRES THAT WE USE ALL ELEMENTS OF OUR NATIONAL
POWER - DIPLOMATIC, DEVELOPMENT, MILITARY, ECONOMIC AND
INFORMATIONAL. THAT'S WHY I AM WRITING YOU TODAY.
BECAUSE WHETHER THIS STRATEGY SUCCEEDS OR NOT DEPENDS IN
LARGE PART ON ALL OF US AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND
USAID.
OUR NEW APPROACH IN AFGHANISTAN EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE
OF FULLY RESOURCING A COUNTER-INSURGENCY STRATEGY, AND
THE PRESIDENT HAS DECIDED TO DEPLOY MORE MILITARY
TRAINERS TO HELP BOLSTER THE AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES. BUT
THE MAJOR SHIFT IN THIS STRATEGY IS TO EMPHASIZE OUR
DIPLOMATIC AND CIVILIAN EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES
IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN. OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN THE STRATEGIC REVIEW
ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OR USAID.
THAT MEANS MORE CIVILIAN EXPERTISE WORKING ON THE GROUND;
IT MEANS PURSUING GREATER REGIONAL DIPLOMACY; AND IT
MEANS SUSTAINED HIGH-LEVEL ATTENTION AND FOCUS IN
WASHINGTON.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ASKED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN
RESOURCES FOR OUR DIPLOMATIC AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN, AND WE WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH CONGRESS TO SEE THAT THESE REQUESTS ARE FULLY
FULFILLED. IT ALSO MEANS CHANGING THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS: THIS NEW STRATEGY MAKES CLEAR THAT WE MUST
IMPLEMENT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE MANAGEMENT,
RESOURCES, AND FOCUS OF OUR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE.
IMPLEMENTING OUR STRATEGY WILL BE AMONG THE HIGHEST
PRIORITIES FOR ME AND MY ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM,
INCLUDING THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN, WHO REPORTS DIRECTLY TO ME AND WILL BE THE
FOCAL POINT FOR ALL OUR CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES IN THIS
EFFORT. AND OF COURSE, WE WILL BE ASKING ALL COUNTRIES
WHO HAVE A STAKE IN THE FUTURE OF THIS CRITICAL REGION TO
DO THEIR PART - A MESSAGE I WILL DELIVER NEXT WEEK WHEN I
MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM OVER EIGHTY COUNTRIES AT
THE HAGUE.
GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE CHALLENGE WE FACE, IT IS
APPROPRIATE THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE GREATER THAN
BEFORE. THE EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH; BUT WE CAN MEET THEM.
IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD, I ASK FOR ALL OF YOUR
IDEAS, TALENT, CREATIVITY, HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE TO
HELP MAKE THIS NEW STRATEGY SUCCEED. THE ABILITY OF THE
AFGHAN AND PAKISTANI PEOPLE TO BUILD PEACEFUL AND
PROSPEROUS LIVES - AND THE FUTURE NATIONAL SECURITY OF
THE UNITED STATES - REQUIRES NOTHING LESS.
END TEXT.
CLINTON