VZCZCXYZ0023
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #0442/01 0882054
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 292054Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4547

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 000442 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA A/S TOM SHANNON 
INL A/S ANNE PATTERSON 
PM ACT. A/S STEPHEN MULL 
SOUTHCOM FOR ADMIRAL STAVRIDIS 
FROM AMBASSADOR JOHNSON 
STATE PASS TO OMB 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2017 
TAGS: MASS PREL PTER SNAR ASEC CASC MOPS OMB VZ CH
JM, XL 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: ELIMINATION OF FY-08 FMF WILL HAVE SEVERE 
NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES; REQUEST THAT FMF BE RESTORED FOR 
FY-08 AND BEYOND 
 
REF: CBJ FOR FY-08 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Brenda L. Johnson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED 
----------------------------- 
 
1.(C)  The elimination of the FY-08 FMF (Foreign Military 
Financing) funding allocation for Jamaica in the 
Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) will: 
 
-- have a detrimental impact on our bilateral relations by 
sending the negative message to the Government of Jamaica 
(GoJ) that we are reducing our security engagement in the 
country and the region; 
 
-- create a target of opportunity for Venezuela and China, 
offering them a chance to bolster their roles as regional 
counterweights to the U.S., thus increasing the Government of 
Jamaica (GoJ)'s vulnerability to coercion; 
 
-- undercut our efforts in counter-narcotics, homeland 
security, anti-crime, anti-corruption, and other areas. 
 
Ambassador therefore requests that Washington restore FMF for 
Jamaica in FY-08 and beyond. 
End Summary and Action Requested. 
 
Harmful Impact on Bilateral Relations 
------------------------------------- 
 
2.(C)  Elimination of the FMF funding will have a detrimental 
impact on our bilateral relations by sending the negative 
message to the GoJ that we are reducing our security 
engagement in the country and the region.  The Jamaica 
Defence Force (JDF) and GoJ will likely view the elimination 
of funding as unfair and unprovoked, as they have not 
violated the 1963 Defense Agreement between the US and 
Jamaica, have not violated the conditions set forth in the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, nor been subject to any 
illegal trafficking sanctions.  In addition, the JDF and GoJ 
will consider the elimination of the FMF funding as proof of 
weakening U.S. resolve to back alliances and defense 
commitments, both in this hemisphere and globally. 
 
Invitation to Chavez and China 
------------------------------ 
 
3.(C)  Moreover, elimination of FMF funding will create a 
target of opportunity for Venezuela and China, offering them 
a chance to bolster their roles as regional counterweights to 
the U.S. and increasing the GoJ's vulnerability to coercion. 
The Government of Venezuela (GoV) has designed and funded 
foreign assistance programs that directly confront U.S. 
programs or take advantage of reductions in U.S. assistance 
in the hemisphere.  Any significant or widespread reduction 
of FMF will serve as a lucrative target for the GoV, 
especially if it draws media attention.  The GoV is likely to 
offer a program to fill the void left by removal of FMF, 
possibly through purchases of Russian or Chinese-origin 
equipment.  Also, while China thus far has limited its 
contributions to non-lethal and less controversial items 
(i.e., uniforms, tents, and computers), it has increased 
assistance to Jamaica; it may well view elimination of FMF as 
an opportunity to enhance its role in equipping and supplying 
the JDF. 
 
Homeland Security Implications 
------------------------------ 
 
4.(C)  Elimination of FMF will hinder our efforts to have a 
strong third border defense by leaving large gaps in the 
operational capability of the JDF, thus continuing to burden 
US forces with much of the counter-illicit trafficking duties 
in the region.  As one of the first nations to be included in 
Phase 1 of "Enduring Friendship", Jamaica will lack the 
modern equipment it needs to be a vital partner in the 
forward defense of the US homeland and to have an advantage 
over illicit-trafficking organizations. 
 
Material Impact on Jamaica Defence Force 
---------------------------------------- 
 
 
5.(SBU)  Loss of FMF may undercut JDF will and capability to 
contribute to regional and combined operations.  The 
procurement of US-origin equipment has enhanced the JDF's 
operational readiness and is an instrumental step in more 
closely aligning JDF doctrine and tactics with those of the 
US DoD.  Purchases of U.S.-origin equipment positively 
influence JDF preferences and decisions to attend U.S. DoD 
training through the IMET Program.  Commonality of equipment 
and doctrine improves the likelihood that the JDF could be 
integrated quickly and efficiently with US forces for 
coalition operations; conversely, termination of FMF may 
undercut JDF will and capability to contribute to regional 
and combined operations. 
 
6.(SBU)  The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will be unable to 
procure equipment essential to counter illicit trafficking 
and maintain operational readiness.  A large percentage of 
its budget is consumed by operational expenses (i.e., 
salaries, rent, fuel), leaving little for equipment or parts. 
 The JDF will be unable to purchase U.S.-origin night vision 
equipment to improve the Air Wing's and Coast Guard's night 
and inclement weather capabilities.  Also, the JDF recently 
have established the Jamaican Military Aviation School, and 
had planned to use the night vision systems to support its 
rotary and fixed-wing pilot training.  Without FMF, the JDF's 
planned adoption of US DoD standard weapons (M4 and M16A4 
Rifles and M9 Pistols) will be in jeopardy: to date, they 
have procured (primarily through the FMF program) sufficient 
M16-variant weapons to equip 70 percent of their force; they 
need to rapidly complete this fielding to benefit from 
standardized training, operations, maintenance and supply 
systems. 
 
Increasing Strain on INCLE Funds, Counter-Narcotics, 
Counter-Corruption Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
7.(SBU)  Moreover, as DOD funding is cut, the Mission's 
Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) will be asked to bear an even 
greater burden of support for the JDF and JCF (Jamaica 
Constabulary Force) to enable their continued interdiction 
and eradication of illegal drugs.  Their needs for 
operational support (equipment, training) will put pressure 
on funding that is sorely needed for new policy initiatives, 
such as: (a) our Tripartite Anti-Corruption Strategy, 
launched in FY-07 with the U.K. and Canadian missions, which 
is a direct outgrowth of the President's Anti-Kleptocracy 
Initiative; and (b) our support of the Police Civilian 
Oversight Commission's efforts to reform the JCF. 
 
8.(SBU)  In the absence of FMF, the resulting 
"fill-in-the-gap" pressures on NAS assistance and leadership 
will reduce interdiction and eradication of illegal drugs, 
and the new anti-corruption policy initiatives would suffer. 
This would provide criminal organizations opportunities to 
augment their smuggling activities in Jamaica, money 
laundering would increase, and the flow of weapons for drugs 
would swell.  All of these likely outcomes would have a 
commensurate deleterious effect on U.S. interests: crime and 
violence would increase, thus threatening the one million 
U.S. tourists who visit annually; the flows of cocaine and 
marijuana from Jamaica to the U.S. would increase, as 
criminal organizations take advantage of diminished 
enforcement. 
JOHNSON