Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE52919
2009-05-22 18:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN

Tags:  AMGT AADP KRIM AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 221851Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY KABUL 
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
UNCLAS STATE 052919 


FOR D/AMB RICCIARDONE AND CKO LIVELY, BANGKOK FOR RIMC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AADP KRIM AF
SUBJECT: ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN

REF: KABUL 1090


UNCLAS STATE 052919


FOR D/AMB RICCIARDONE AND CKO LIVELY, BANGKOK FOR RIMC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT AADP KRIM AF
SUBJECT: ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN

REF: KABUL 1090



1. We've heard you, we're engaged and taking action. As
CIO Swart discussed with AmEmbassy Kabul leadership last
week, we understand the challenges and high level impact
of Mission Afghanistan. Going forward, we will continue
to work closely with you, doing everything possible to
provide both winning knowledge management and better
information integration among our diplomatic, development
and defense initiatives in Afghanistan. In response to
reftel we have undertaken the following:

IMPROVED INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION


2. A proposed four-person joint IRM and RM/IRP team will
visit Embassy Kabul on 1-5 June and will provide Embassy
staff and the country team hands-on training on several
technologies, most of which are currently accessible to a
majority of USG personnel in Afghanistan. These
collaboration tools include the Communities@State blogs,
Diplopedia, Intellipedia, Net-Centric Diplomacy,
SharePoint, uGov mail, and a common user authentication
tool known as Intelink Passport. The team will also host
a series of focus groups on knowledge management issues,
including existing PRT business processes and identify
mechanisms to improve the overall availability and
retention of PRT reporting data currently managed thru
commercial internet services.


3. The Department understands Kabul's requirement for in-
country interagency collaboration. We recognize that
latency and performance issues make using the central
SharePoint environment unsatisfactory for Kabul's
requirement. To address this issue, we are looking at a
local installation of SharePoint with Groove integration
(in Kabul),managed by IRM's SharePoint team.


4. Although we recognize there are latency issues for
Mission Afghanistan, there is a resource that is already
available to manage data across agencies -- "IPOG" -- the
Iraq Policy Operation Group. IPOG is an NSC mandated
Secretariat that maintains interagency strategic planning
and implementation matrices and other databases. IPOG has
proven effective in providing the communication tools to
make sure the interagency is kept fully informed; these
tools include robust and active SharePoint sites on both
OpenNet and on ClassNet. IPOG can support the U.S.
Mission in Afghanistan and Washington backstop offices by
providing program assistance, information technology, and
administrative support of interagency meetings. These
services are available now in support of U.S. Mission
Afghanistan and Washington offices via a modification of
the existing contract. The services provided now could be
expanded for additional support.

IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS


5. Globecomm Systems, Inc. (GSI) engineers will travel to
Kabul June 10-14. The team will assess the current status
and connectivity of Embassy Kabul's GSI VSAT satellite
terminal. As well as determine connectivity needed to
support the civilian increase and projected multiple
building construction/expansions. The team will also
survey connectivity (current and planned) for embassy
trailers/residences to include Internet solutions for
MoraleNet, maintenance, help desk, and on-site technical
support. Proposals and cost estimates for connectivity
upgrades are to be determined based on the survey results.


6. The team will also determine the requirements for PRT
sites, including satellite service requirements and
potential solutions for OpenNet connectivity.


7. Support requirements for the two new proposed mission
locations(Herat and Mazar) after the initial MIPC 6-month
deployment will also be discussed, including satellite
bandwidth requirements for OpenNet, ClassNet, voice, and
VTC.


8. A RIMC representative will travel to post to assist
with the development and completion of a scope of work to
address the physical infrastructure expansion. Our
objective is a scope of work that allows the development
of an accurate bill of materials, labor estimates, and
addresses not only the immediate needs, but positions the
post for the numerous expansions scheduled over the next
12 months.


9. To better coordinate efforts please address your
requirements to D/CIO and CKO, Janice Fedak, who will
collect, coordinate, and track all activities. We look
forward to working with Mission Afghanistan as we refine
our plans to move forward based on the results of the
above trips.


CLINTON