VZCZCXRO9766
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #1181/01 1011749
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 111749Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3830
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0032
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 0006
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0019
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0035
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0051
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 001181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 
TAGS: PGOV MOPS PREL IZ AS JA PL KS ES MD LO MK
SUBJECT: COALITION PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ PRTS 
 
Classified By: DCM David Satterfield for reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) Please see para 4 for an ACTION REQUEST. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Five of the eight planned U.S.-led 
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been staffed and 
have received initial training: three are fully operational, 
one is at initial operational capability (IOC) and expected 
to achieve full operational capability (FOC) in April, and 
one is pending approval to formally establish IOC.  Two 
Coalition-led PRTs and the remaining three U.S. led PRTs are 
scheduled to open in April to May 2006. 
 
¶3. (SBU) SUMMARY CONT'D: To ensure that each province has 
coverage by a PRT, we need to strengthen and expedite our 
efforts to obtain firm Coalition commitments.  Post is 
engaging in ongoing discussions with Coalition partners in 
order to encourage their participation in supporting a PRT in 
each province (including Iraqi-led PRTs); however, additional 
support is required to engage our Coalition partners to 
commit resources to the PRTs.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests the Department's support 
in working with the Coalition capitals to gain these 
commitments.  Recommended talking points are included in 
paras 12-18.  When this is done, Post and MNF-I will work 
with embassies and Coalition partners to work out the details 
of support.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
------------------- 
AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN 
------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Post's planning for Muthanna Province was to have an 
Iraqi PRT supported by the Italian PRT in Nasariyah (Dhi 
Qar).  However, the Italians believe they will have their 
hands full with Dhi Qar and would welcome another Coalition 
partner supporting Muthanna.  Post would like the Australians 
to host and support a PRT for Muthanna from Talil Air Base 
(AB).  The location is based on the assumption that a small 
group of about 150 Australian soldiers will remain in Talil 
AB after the majority of the Australian contingent is 
withdrawn to Basrah.  Post can make arrangements with 
Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) for billeting and messing 
of PRT staff at Talil but will look to the Australians to 
provide movement security and provide a Deputy Team Leader to 
the PRT.  The USG would provide an Iraq Provincial Action 
Officer (IPAO), Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) 
Provincial Program Manager (PPM), Department of Justice Rule 
of Law officer, USAID officer, Team Leader, and Local 
Governance Program (LGP) staff.  MNC-I could possibly provide 
a small (four to six person) Civil Affairs (CA) Operational 
Team.  This staffing would allow a good start for supporting 
Muthanna and allow for a smoother transition to an Iraqi-led 
PRT over time.  It also would demonstrate strong Coalition 
participation in the PRT program. 
 
¶6. (C) Post recommends pressing the Japanese to provide an 
engineering officer to the proposed PRT Muthanna on the 
assumption that the Australians and the PRT will be based at 
Talil AB.  Post also recommends that Japan provide one 
individual to the National Coordination Team (NCT) in Embassy 
Baghdad to manage Japanese project and loan expenditures.  We 
believe this will provide the Japanese an excellent 
opportunity to continue to monitor their investment in 
Muthanna in partnership with the Australians while increasing 
Japan's participation in the NCT (which will enable them to 
more effectively allocate their remaining assistance funds). 
 
------ 
POLAND 
------ 
 
¶7. (C) The Polish Ambassador has stated (although it has not 
been confirmed by Warsaw) that Poland is willing to support a 
PRT in Qadissiya.  No agreement has been reached on the size 
of that support.  Post would like the Poles to provide 
billeting and messing at Camp Echo; a Deputy Team Leader; a 
civil affairs unit; and movement security support.  Post 
encourages the Poles to lead the PRT if they so desire.  The 
USG is prepared to provide a Team Leader (or U.S. co-Deputy 
Team Leader if the Poles lead), an IPAO, IRMO PPM, USAID 
officer, engineer, and LGP team.   Additionally, the PRT 
should be prepared to support an Iraqi-led PRT in Qadissiya, 
with the Poles supporting personnel dedicated to Wasit 
 
BAGHDAD 00001181  002 OF 004 
 
 
Province at Camp Echo with billeting, messing, and movement 
security. 
 
----------- 
EL SALVADOR 
----------- 
 
¶8. (C) We would like to see El Salvador support the PRT in Al 
Kut (Wasit).  Their current contingent is approximately 350 
persons and they are heavily engaged in civil affairs and 
reconstruction activities in the province.  Presently, force 
protection requirements are provided to them by the Polish 
Coalition Forces (CF); however, Post understands that the 
Salvadorans may welcome opportunities to broaden their 
mission.  The Salvadorans constitute the majority of the 
Coalition presence at Camp Delta in Al Kut.  We may want to 
consider basing a Coalition-led PRT in Wasit in case the 
Poles decide against supporting a PRT in Qadissiya.  At a 
minimum, we suggest that the Salvadorans provide a Deputy 
Team Leader, movement security, and a civil affairs element 
for the Wasit province effort from Camp Delta that can be 
integrated into the broader effort. 
 
----- 
KOREA 
----- 
 
¶9. (C) Post hopes that the Koreans will sponsor/host a 
Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) in Erbil, which would be 
responsible for the Kurdish Provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, 
and Dahuk.  Post is asking the Koreans, at a minimum, to 
provide an area for housing, RRT work space, Deputy Team 
Leader, engineer, civil affairs unit, and movement security 
support within Erbil Province.  We have encouraged the 
Koreans to provide a Team Leader but do not expect them to do 
so.  If they opt to provide a Team Leader, we would adjust 
USG responsibility to have a USG co-Deputy Team Leader 
oversee the supporting offices in Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk. 
However, the simplest configuration would be a USG Team 
Leader with a Korean military deputy for Erbil and another 
USG deputy to cover the other two provinces. 
 
-------------------------------- 
MOLDOVA/SLOVAKIA/MACEDONIA/OTHER 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C)  Although we doubt that Moldova, Slovakia, Macedonia, 
and other members of the Coalition are willing to commit the 
size of force that could support or host a PRT, we can and 
should incorporate individual expertise in specific areas to 
help round out other PRTs.  Functional areas in which we 
could use military or civilian expertise on other PRTs 
include: engineering officers, civil affairs specialists, 
public affairs officers, rule of law specialists, 
agricultural specialists, municipal/urban planning 
specialists, finance/budgeting specialists, economic 
development specialists, private sector development 
specialists, tourism specialists (especially in Erbil, Najaf, 
and Karbala), and civil administration specialists. 
 
------ 
TURKEY 
------ 
 
¶11. (C) Post would like the Turks to participate in the PRT 
initiative by providing functional experts (military or 
civilian) to PRT Baghdad.  Due to the extensive nature of 
capacity-building demands in Baghdad, the Turks' expertise 
and historical familiarity with the culture and business 
norms of the Arab world would be particularly beneficial. 
Functional areas in which Post could use military or civilian 
expertise on PRTs include: engineering officers, civil 
affairs specialists, public affairs officers, rule of law 
specialists, agricultural specialists, municipal/urban 
planners, finance/budgeting specialists, economic development 
officers, and private sector development specialists. Due to 
Baghdad's size and complexity, civil administration 
specialists would be especially valuable. 
 
--------------------------- 
Recommended Talking Points: 
--------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Talking points for the Australians 
 
 
BAGHDAD 00001181  003 OF 004 
 
 
-- We request that you support a PRT in Muthanna from Talil 
AB by providing movement security support and perhaps a 
deputy team leader. 
 
-- The USG is willing to provide several civilian specialists 
in addition to military civil affairs personnel to support 
the PRT. 
 
-- We are asking the Japanese to provide an engineer to 
support this PRT and to ensure continued oversight and 
coordination on the Japanese projects in Muthanna. 
 
-- Sufficient facilities exist at Talil AB to support PRT 
Muthanna and the Australian contingent. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Talking points for the Japanese: 
 
-- It is important that you remain engaged on the ground in 
Iraq to support the management of its reconstruction 
investment there. 
 
-- Provision of a liaison officer to the National 
Coordination Team in Baghdad will allow you to establish and 
develop relationships with the central government of Iraq and 
other donor nations. 
 
-- The Australians are very interested in supporting a PRT 
with Japanese representation as they believe that your two 
countries have established a solid working relationship in 
Iraq. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Talking points for the Republic of Korea: 
 
-- We invite the RoK to lead the RRT in Erbil based upon its 
strong performance in providing economic and job creation 
opportunities in Erbil. However, if you are unwilling to lead 
a PRT then you are welcome to provide a Deputy Team Leader. 
 
-- We are conscious of the limitations placed upon the your 
movement by the Korean National Assembly, which will not 
preclude their leadership of the RRT.  For travel outside the 
immediate area, the American Deputy Team Leader would be 
responsible for Dohuk or Sulaymaniyah 
 
-- Current efforts by the Korea International Cooperation 
Agency (KOICA) can be integrated into the PRT or remain 
separate, depending upon the wishes of the RoK. 
 
¶15. (SBU) Talking points for Poland: 
 
-- We would welcome the Polish Government leading the PRT in 
Qadissiya and providing a civil affairs unit and support for 
movement security. 
 
-- If the Polish Government does not wish to lead a PRT, we 
would like you to provide a Deputy Team Leader and billeting 
and messing for the PRT at Camp Echo. 
 
-- The PRT offers an opportunity to re-mission your forces to 
focus more on capacity and economic development in addition 
to reconstruction efforts. 
 
-- The USG will provide additional specialists to fill gaps 
in capabilities that you may be unable to fill and also will 
provide support through the National Coordination Team in our 
Baghdad Embassy. 
 
¶16. (SBU) Talking points for El Salvador: 
 
-- We would welcome your providing support to the PRT in Al 
Kut, Wasit.  This is a natural extension to your engagement 
in civil affairs and reconstruction activities in the 
province. 
 
-- In particular we would be interested in your providing a 
Deputy Team Leader, movement security, and a civil affairs 
element to support engagement in Wasit Province. 
 
¶17. (SBU) Talking points for Macedonia: 
 
-- We would like to know your interest in participating in 
the PRT initiative. 
 
-- We would welcome your providing individual team members to 
the PRTs, and you do not need to take on the leadership or 
 
BAGHDAD 00001181  004 OF 004 
 
 
major support role. 
 
¶18. (SBU) Talking points for Turkey: 
 
-- We welcome and encourage your participation in the PRT 
initiative and your desire to contribute to the security and 
stability of Iraq. 
 
-- We would encourage you to consider providing subject 
matter experts in civil administration for the Baghdad PRT. 
 
-- We would welcome additional specialists in engineering, 
civil affairs, public affairs, and agriculture, if available. 
KHALILZAD