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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5695
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0010
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1854
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2872
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0030
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2589
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0052
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0658

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ULAANBAATAR 000437 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/FO, EAP/CM AND NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR EAID MG IQ
SUBJECT: US DELEGATION THANKS MONGOLIA FOR ITS CONTINUED 
SUPPORT IN IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Brian L. Goldbeck for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  During a July 22-24 visit to Mongolia, 
NEA DAS Ambassador Lawrence Butler and Peter McVety, Office 
of the Secretary of Defense,s Director of Coalition Affairs 
for Iraq and Afghanistan, met July 23 with senior government 
officials including the President, Foreign Minister, Chief of 
the General Staff, and Members of the State Great Hural 
(parliament) to reinforce Mongolia,s commitment to its 
presence in Iraq by emphasizing U.S. appreciation for 
continuing support as a troop-contributing member of the Iraq 
coalition. The delegation was warmly received and it offered 
persuasive arguments encouraging the Mongolian government to 
continue to commit troops to Iraq coalition operations in the 
future.  END SUMMARY. 
 
"My Nation Is Grateful For Your Sacrifices" 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Throughout their meetings with Government of 
Mongolia (GOM) officials, DAS Butler and Mr. McVety, 
accompanied by the Ambassador, TDY Poloff (notetaker) and 
DATT, stressed the two-pronged purpose of their visit. First, 
they expressed on behalf of Secretaries Rice and Gates their 
deep appreciation for Mongolia,s contribution to coalition 
forces in Iraq. Second, they sought to provide an overview of 
the current situation in Iraq, in advance of the Iraq 
progress report due to be delivered to Congress in 
mid-September. 
 
¶3. (C) The delegation covered in great detail recent events 
at Camp Echo in Al-Qadisiyah province, where the Mongolia,s 
100-member contingent provides base security for Polish 
forces. In recent months, Camp Echo had come under frequent 
mortar and rocket attacks, but following increased patrolling 
efforts, these attacks have almost completely ceased. (Note: 
Concern over these attacks led the Mongolian government to 
roll-back its planned increase to 136 troops from 100 back to 
100 troops as part of the current eighth rotation. End note.) 
 
FM Enkhbold Expresses Caution on Ninth Rotation 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Enkhbold noted that Mongolia,s 
support to the United States in Iraq is not part of any quid 
pro quo. Rather, Mongolia,s support of the coalition is 
rooted in the philosophy that the country has an obligation 
to help partners and friends who helped Mongolia when it was 
in dire straits. But members of the media and the opposition 
are pressing the government to know what benefit Mongolia has 
received for its Iraq contributions. Enkhbold expressed his 
view that at the political level, there is wide support for 
Mongolian involvement in Iraq. Until recently, the Mongolian 
public had not been engaged in a debate over its 
government,s involvement. But in advance of the most recent 
eighth rotation, members of the public and media had become 
more active in questioning the rationale for Mongolia,s 
contribution of troops. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Enkhbold noted that as long as Mongolians see the 
situation in Iraq improving, there would be little difficulty 
in continuing to send troops to Iraq. However, he also 
admitted that the decision to send the eighth rotation had 
been very difficult. It was only after President Bush 
intervened personally with a phone call to President 
Enkhbayar that the government made the decision to continue 
its previous levels of support. Enkhbold concluded that it 
was hard to tell what would happen with a ninth rotation. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Enkhbold also used the opportunity to remind the 
U.S. of the importance of concluding the Millennium Challenge 
Account (MCA) compact, as well as his desire to see 
Presidents Bush and Enkhbayar sign a strategic partnership 
framework agreement on U.S.-Mongolian relations during 
Enkhbayar,s visit to Washington in the fall. 
 
General Togoo Seeks Expansion of Mongolian Peacekeeping 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000437  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) LTG Togoo, Chief of the General Staff, expressed his 
appreciation that Mongolian troops in Iraq had received the 
heavy machine guns and other materials requested in advance 
of their most recent deployment. Additionally, he was pleased 
to hear from McVety that financial reimbursements for the 
sixth and seventh rotations would arrive by early August. 
Togoo stated that he had given a report to Parliament prior 
to the decision to deploy an eighth rotation, and that 
updates from CENTCOM, OSD, and from sources on the ground in 
Iraq were critical to the Mongolian government,s decision 
making and future planning. 
 
¶8. (C) Togoo asked a number of questions of the delegation. 
Topics of discussion included the expected timing of the 
transfer of Al-Qadisiyah province to Iraqi authority, 
anticipated changes to the structure of Polish forces, the 
mechanics of casualty evacuation for Mongolian soldiers, and 
the status of the MCA compact. He also expressed his concern 
that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find 
sufficient numbers of qualified English speakers in the 
officer and enlisted ranks to participate in Iraq rotations 
and other UN missions. He asked that a program for providing 
American English instructors to the Mongolian military be 
resurrected. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Finally, Togoo stated that the U.N. mission in 
Sierra Leone (250 Mongolian soldiers are currently providing 
security to the Special Court) was slated to end in 2008, and 
asked for U.S. assistance in working with the U.N. to 
highlight Mongolian willingness and ability to participate in 
other U.N. peacekeeping operations. 
 
President Enkhbayar Laments Mongolian Oil Dependence 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶10. (U) President Enkhbayar expressed his appreciation for 
the delegation,s visit, and noted that Mongolia, as a new 
democracy, should be proud to be assisting another country 
now undergoing a similar transition. While acknowledging that 
there have been recent difficulties in maintaining public 
support for the Iraq deployments, Enkhbayar cited the 
government,s efforts to convince soldiers and officers that 
their services are highly valued. He also mentioned that he 
has personally greeted each of the previous seven rotations 
when they returned from Iraq. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Enkhbayar also noted that Mongolia,s large 
neighbors, Russia and China, have both implied that they are 
unhappy about Mongolia,s involvement in Iraq. He lamented 
the fact that Mongolia receives 99 percent of its processed 
oil imports from Russia. He mentioned that the Emir of Kuwait 
would soon visit Mongolia, and he expressed his hope that 
Mongolia,s other allies, including the U.S., European Union, 
Korea, and Japan could help to lessen Mongolia,s dependence 
on Russia and China for fuels and lubricants. 
 
Parliamentarians Discuss Public Opinion 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (U) During a lunch hosted by Ambassador Minton, four 
members of the National Security Committee of the State Great 
Hural (parliament) took the opportunity to share their views 
and opinions with the delegation. 
 
¶13. (SBU) When the discussion turned to public opinion of 
Mongolian involvement in Iraq, one MP cautioned that while he 
believes Mongolian involvement in Iraq is necessary, there 
will have to be an end date for such support. A few MPs 
questioned whether parliament and the government had done 
enough to educate the public on the potential dangers of the 
Iraq deployment. The Mongolian Armed Forces have not suffered 
a single casualty since the end of the Second World War, and 
there is concern that public opinion could turn dramatically 
against Mongolian involvement if a serious injury or death(s) 
were to take place. The consensus around the table was that 
the public must be made aware of the risks, and one 
suggestion was for the opposition to question the Prime 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000437  003 OF 003 
 
 
Minister on this issue. (Comment: Although all the MPs 
present recognized the need to inform the public, none seemed 
particularly willing to take the initiative to begin a public 
debate on casualties. End Comment.) 
 
¶14. (U) MPs lamented the fact that there was a public 
perception of a linkage between Mongolian support for the 
United States in Iraq and progress toward finalizing the MCA 
compact. The MPs also sought the latest information on the 
status of the MCA compact; all expressed hope that it would 
be concluded soon. The event ended with a brief discussion of 
visa issues, and the MPs hoped that more tourist and 
educational visas to the United States would be made 
available. 
 
Media Coverage 
-------------- 
 
¶15. (U) A number of print and television outlets covered the 
visit. As is often the case here, Mongolian news sources 
provided little analysis and simply reported on the presence 
of the American delegation and its meetings with the 
President and other officials. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶15. (C) Amb. Butler's and Mr. McVety's message of 
appreciation for Mongolia,s coalition commitments was very 
well received by President Enkhbayar, senior members of the 
government and Members of Parliament. Although all political 
leaders expressed their support for the Iraq mission, recent 
experience with the eighth rotation demonstrates the 
potential for rising public opposition to the continuing 
presence of Mongolian troops in Iraq. The death or serious 
injury of a Mongolian soldier may force the issue to the 
fore. Given that the eighth rotation was only secured 
following a phone call by President Bush, similar or even 
greater pressure will likely have to be exerted to secure a 
ninth rotation. An ideal opportunity for such a pitch will 
present itself during President Enkhbayar,s visit to 
Washington at the invitation of President Bush in the fall. 
END COMMENT. 
 
¶16. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassador Butler and 
Mr. McVety. 
MINTON