VZCZCXYZ1263
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0668 0630943
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 030943Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2036
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000668 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EAP FOR EX 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2018 
TAGS: ABLD AFIN AMGT APER ASEC ODIP TH
SUBJECT: INPUT ON CHANGE IN DOD'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT 
POST 
 
REF: A. STATE 17502 
     ¶B. SDO/DATT DIRECTIVE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) Bangkok appreciates the opportunity to contribute to 
the dialog between State and DoD on the implementation of the 
Senior Defense Official/DATT Directive.  State, DAO, and 
JUSMAG representatives have followed this initiative closely 
and we believe that the plan to create the SDO/DATT position 
will assist in coordinating State-Defense issues here in 
Bangkok.  While we view this undertaking positively, we do 
have a few questions to raise. 
 
¶2. (C) DAO Bangkok has been told that an official decision 
has been made to designate the JUSMAGTHAI Chief as the 
SDO/DATT and that this appointment would become effective 
June 2008.  In order to fulfill DATT duties and to provide 
consultation on DoD activities with the Ambassador, we expect 
the SDO/DATT to have an office within the Chancery as well as 
at JUSMAGTHAI.  As JUSMAGTHAI is not co-located in the 
Chancery, we envision the need to reconfigure the DATT office 
to provide an office for the SDO/DATT. 
 
¶3. (U) Section 3.1 of the SDO/DATT Directive indicates that 
the SDO/DATT has the authority to require consultation 
between the DoD agencies and if essential agreement cannot be 
obtained, refer the matter to the next senior in the 
reporting chain.  Embassy Bangkok intends to continue 
resolving these issues internally before involving more 
senior officials in DoD.  This includes raising the issue in 
question to the Chief of Mission.  Indeed, it is essential 
that nothing in this proposal be seen as potentially 
undermining Chief of Mission authority. 
 
¶4. (U) Section 5.9.5 of the Directive specifies that the 
SDO/DATT present coordinated DoD views on all defense matters 
to the COM and act as the single DoD point of contact for the 
COM.  As Bangkok is home to a large number of DoD 
organizations with diverse activities, it would not be 
practical for the SDO/DATT to have in-depth knowledge of the 
activities of all of DoD operations.  As such, the COM plans 
to supplement consultation with the SDO/DATT with advice from 
the heads of other DoD agencies.  In that view, the DCM would 
continue to chair monthly POL/MIL coordination meetings. 
 
¶5. (U) We appreciate the opportunity to provide input to 
implementation of the SDO/DATT initiative and look forward to 
continued close State-Defense cooperation at Post. 
JOHN