VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNO #0585 3041821
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311821Z OCT 07
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1328
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0373

UNCLAS USNATO 000585 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO RPM: CDAVY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: NATO PREL
SUBJECT: RFG:  NTM-I 2007 PERIODIC MISSION REVIEW 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  This is an action request, see paragraph 4.  The 
Autumn 2007 Periodic Mission Review (PMR) of NATO Training 
Mission - Iraq (NTM-I) has passed NATO's Military Committee 
(MC) and the Policy Coordination Group (PCG) will meet on 
November 9 to consider recommendations to the North Atlantic 
Council (NAC).  Mission requests guidance for the PCG 
discussion on the PMR text.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. The PMR has passed through the MC without a break of 
silence.  (The PMR and attachments were e-mailed to EUR/RPM). 
 The Iraqi Military Academy at Ar Rustamiyah (IMAR) is where 
NTM-I has focused its training efforts, with over 4500 Iraqis 
having been trained there and the Iraqi Joint Staff College 
and Iraqi Training and Doctrine Command having been 
established there.  NTM-I always envisioned that its training 
mission would transition to a mentoring role, and this is set 
to happen at IMAR in August 2008 when the permanent NTM-I 
footprint will be removed. 
 
¶3. However, some Allies are construing the success at IMAR to 
mean that the entire NTM-I mission is poised to move to its 
end-state.  And unfortunately, the PCG cover letter, from the 
office of A/SYG Martin Howard, states: "NATO's mentoring role 
in Iraq can expect to conclude by August 2008 with the 
mission having reached its initial objectives."  The PMR 
itself notes that a "political decision will be needed in 
spring 2008 as to whether the mission should terminate or 
continue to provide niche capabilities."  The Iraqi 
government has made a number of requests for such additional 
niche training. 
 
¶4. USNATO requests specific guidance on the draft PMR for the 
November 9 PCG meeting to enable post to shape the PMR to 
make it consistent with our long-term vision for NTM-I, ie. 
to preserve our option to maintain NTM-I and to be able to 
respond to any future Iraqi requests for training. 
NULAND