NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN POLISH, U.S. POSITIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 001153

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CE AND SRAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF PL
SUBJECT: NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN POLISH, U.S. POSITIONS ON
AFGHAN PRIORITIES

REF: A. STATE 118297

B. BRADLEY E-MAIL 11/10/09 (WARSAW DAILY REPORT)

Classified By: Political Counselor F. Daniel Sainz for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Poland agrees that Afghanistan's partners
need to urge the GoA to tackle a few top priorities, such as
improving good governance, fighting corruption, and
bolstering Afghan security forces. MFA officials told us the
West should make clear to President Karzai that continued
support depends on his full cooperation, and signal our
contacts with alternative Afghan leaders. The Poles hailed
the EU's new engagement strategy, and are looking for ways --
such as increased EUPOL contributions -- to take part. Our
MFA contacts also welcomed President Sarkozy's efforts to
persuade Chancellor Merkel that ISAF partners need to adopt
the same Rules of Engagement. Elsewhere, MFA officials have
told us there have been inter-ministerial discussions about
changing Poland's own national Rules of Engagement in a way
that might make it easier for Polish commanders to go on the
offensive. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The GOP wants what we want when it comes to liaising
with the Government of Afghanistan: a few, core messages
carefully coordinated within the international community.
Consistent with Ref A approach, Ambassador Krzysztof Szumski,
Director of the MFA's Asia-Pacific Department, told PolCouns
that Afghanistan's partners should focus only on 2-3 key
messages -- for example, anti-corruption, good governance,
and civilian security -- to avoid overloading the new
government in Kabul. Ambassador Jerzy Wieclaw, Director for
MFA's South Asia Division and former Charge in Kabul, added
that we should specify clearly what kinds of actions we
expected, say, in the anti-corruption fight. Wieclaw said
the GoA should pay special attention to the kinds of
low-level malfeasance that have such an impact on Afghans'
daily lives; rooting it out would be a highly visible sign of
good governance.


3. (C) Both Szumski and Wieclaw said we should make clear
to President Hamid Karzai that continued international
support depended on his full cooperation, given public
concerns in ISAF partner countries. Wieclaw thought it
possible to subtly remind Karzai that the West has other
partners in Afghanistan, leaders who emerged during the
elections. In our ongoing dealings with Abdullah Abdullah,
we should urge him not to try to undermine Karzai's
legitimacy, which could destabilize the country. Abdullah
should be encouraged to act like a "loyal opposition," and to
focus on upcoming parliamentary elections.


4. (C) Of course, military strategy must also be
coordinated among international partners. Wieclaw hailed
French President Sarkozy's efforts to persuade German
Chancellor Merkel that ISAF partners need to have common
Rules of Engagement. The enemy exploits differences among
different countries' strategies, he said. Wieclaw indicated
he was not aware of Foreign Minister Sikorski's efforts to
amend Polish national Rules of Engagement. (Embassy Comment:
MFA Security Department officials have told us that
inter-ministerial discussions have taken place concerning
amending the Polish Rules to make it easier to go on the
offensive against combatants. At present, Polish military
commanders need to get Defense Ministry approval before
launching an attack. Ref B)


5. (C) Szumski welcomed the EU's policy of "Enhanced
Engagement," which was discussed during the November 16-17
GAERC in Brussels. Poland appreciates both the uptick in EU
activity and the emphasis on civilian development and
reconstruction. Warsaw may contribute by stepping up
involvement in EUPOL activities and supporting further
development of the Afghan National Police. As Poland
approaches the one-year anniversary of assuming security
responsibility for Ghazni province, the GoP is preparing to
release its assessment of the 30 or so civilian development
projects it implemented in the province over the past year.
The GoP will also propose additional projects, and will
maintain the same level of funding for 2010, despite a
difficult budget climate.

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6. (C) Poland's Afghanistan strategy was under "permanent
review" within the GOP, according to Szumski. He
acknowledged that many aspects of the military asssessments
underway in the Ministry of National Defense are not fully
shared with working-level MFA officials, though senior MFA
officials contribute to the study. Szumski said there were
differing views within MFA on Poland's Afghanistan strategy,
but he predicted there would be no wholesale revision of the
current approach. In any case, the GOP awaited the Obama
Administration's final decision on COMISAF's request for
additional troops before considering next steps.
FEINSTEIN