VZCZCXRO7888
RR RUEHKN
DE RUEHKN #0149/01 2660504
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220504Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KOLONIA
TO RHHMHAA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2122
RHMFIUU/CNO WASHINGTON DC
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHBPUKI/COMDESRON FOURTEEN
RUEHKN/AMEMBASSY KOLONIA 2478

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KOLONIA 000149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR MASS FM
SUBJECT: USNS MERCY AND EMBARKED SEABEES EXCEL AT PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ON 
THE FINAL STOP OF PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2008 
 
REF: A. A) COMPACFLTP   06280013 
     ¶B. B) COMPACFLTP   06280014 
     ¶C. C) KOLONIA   00000148 
 
¶1. (U) This cable responds to Refs A and B action request for an 
evaluation of the USNS Mercy visit to the Federated States of 
Micronesia (FSM).  The following answers are keyed to the 
specific questions. 
 
¶2. (U) The USNS Mercy visit to Micronesia on the last leg of the 
Pacific Partnership 2008 mission significantly exceeded 
expectations.   It came at a sensitive point of transition in 
the U.S.-FSM bilateral relationship.  The Mercy mission boosted 
America's credibility and generated confidence in our strategic 
partnership in the Pacific region.  Confidence in American 
friendship and commitment has soared and broken new ground as a 
result of this historic mission. 
 
¶3. (U) Three aspects of this final port visit in the Mercy 2008 
Pacific Partnership voyage that had the most positive effect 
were: pre-coordination with the Embassy staff, execution of the 
mission, and senior leadership performance during the mission, 
including DV visits, clinic site visits, and ceremonies. 
 
¶4. (U) The following sources helped convey information about the 
visit: local officials (state and municipal representatives, 
traditional indigenous leaders and NGO members, along with a 
Citizen's Task Force in Chuuk); U.S. Embassy media releases; FSM 
National Government health officials, including the 
cabinet-level FSM Health Secretary; word-of-mouth through "the 
coconut wireless," which is often the most common and dependable 
means of disseminating information in country; print media with 
advance placements of Embassy media releases two consecutive 
issues in advance of arrival; distribution and posting of hard 
copies of these media releases by local partners [See 3.3. A) 
and B) above] at community gathering places (village centers, 
community halls, post offices, local businesses, hospitals, 
clinics, schools, etc.) one to three weeks in advance of 
arrival; a newspaper interview by the detailed fleet PAO 
providing essential information; electronic distribution of 
Embassy media releases via the internet to key  contacts in 
Pohnpei, Yap and Chuuk; reading of Embassy media releases  on 
the air by both public and private local AM, FM, and Shortwave 
Radio Stations in Pohnpei, Yap and Chuuk; and separate radio 
interviews by the detailed Fleet PAO (later translated into 
vernacular for rebroadcast). 
 
¶5. (U) The USNS Mercy engaged local media using the optimum 
channels.   Detailed 7th Fleet PAO Naval Reservist Ens. Jennifer 
Franco, USNR, provided excellent support and guidance in 
assisting post to maximize media engagement in an extremely 
limited local media environment.  Her PD professionalism and 
attention to detail ensured the greatest possible media 
coverage.  The Embassy Public Diplomacy Chief worked closely 
with the detailed Fleet PAO and Advance Team Members prior to 
arrival to plot an effective PD strategy.  After arrival, 
embarked ship PAO personnel joined this close collaboration. 
The detailed Fleet PAO and Embassy PD Chief met and worked 
closely with FSM, Pohnpei State, Yap State and Chuuk State 
Public Affairs and Public Information Officers to maximize media 
coverage of the visit.  The detailed Fleet PAO and Embassy PD 
Chief also met and worked closely with FSM, Pohnpei State, Yap 
State, and Chuuk State newspaper and radio personalities to 
maximize media coverage of the visit. 
 
¶6. (U) The FSM has no military force.  The U.S. is responsible 
for the external defense and security of the Federated States of 
Micronesia under the Compact of Free Association.  Therefore, 
there was no host nation military response to the visit and no 
follow-on recommendations from the Embassy in this regard. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The very positive host nation population response to 
the visit was summarized succinctly by an American officer of 
the Guam Rotary Club as follows:  "What an AWESOME undertaking. 
The people of Truk Lagoon don't see or understand the Compact 
and its funding but they sure saw the Mercy and its crew.  What 
a wonderful group of people.  It was America's finest men and 
women doing what America does best, helping others.  On behalf 
of the American people, who have no idea what you have done, 
thank you."  Embassy offers no recommendations regarding areas 
for improvement for interactions with the host nation population 
during future Pacific Partnership or similar missions.  The 
current level appears the optimal possible, in terms of local 
capacity for effective engagement. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Host nation government response to the visit also 
proved very positive.  FSM President Mori expressed deep 
gratitude for the coordination, collaboration and partnership. 
He pointed to the Mercy mission and to recent meetings conducted 
by his office with the highest level leaders of the US military 
 
KOLONIA 00000149  002 OF 003 
 
 
as an indication of the strong relationship between the FSM and 
the United States.  He was extremely grateful for PP 2008 
services provided to the FSM. Chuuk State Governor Simina lauded 
the mission's connections between his people and Americans.  He 
remarked that "the resulting degree of understanding between the 
two nations will go a long way in advancing and strengthening 
our already solid friendship and commitment to the betterment of 
our people and our governments."  Embassy offers no 
recommendations regarding areas for improvement for interactions 
with the host nation government during future Pacific 
Partnership or similar missions.  The current level appears the 
optimal possible, in terms of local capacity for effective 
engagement. 
 
¶9. (U) The Mercy's FSM visit achieved saturation of local media, 
plus some regional publicity, prior to the actual visit.  The 
Embassy issued an overall media release one month in advance 
describing the PP 2008 mission and informing residents of the 
Mercy's imminent arrival. Separate follow-on media releases for 
Pohnpei, Yap and Chuuk States provided details of scheduled 
dates, times and venues for upcoming MEDCAPS, DENCAPS and 
VETCAPS (the latter evolutions taking place only in Chuuk). 
 
¶10. (U) Also during and after the visit, the Mercy mission 
achieved saturation of local media, plus some regional 
publicity.  During the visit, a newspaper interview and radio 
interviews in Pohnpei, Yap and Chuuk provided extensive 
coverage.  With funding from the Embassy's Regional PAO, the 
editor/reporter/photographer of the FSM's sole newspaper 
traveled with Ambassador to Chuuk and covered the Mercy's 
arrival ceremony, VIP events, several MEDCAPS, DENCAPS and 
COMREL events (including an Operation Handclasp turnover).  This 
sponsored travel resulted in a "Special Mercy Issue" of the 
Kaselehlie Press, which circulated two days after ship 
departure.  The issue featured Mercy-related stories on the 
cover page, back page, center pages and a total of 272 column 
inches of PP-related coverage on six of sixteen pages.  After 
departure, the Embassy prepared separate media releases 
containing statistics and outcomes for Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap 
documenting the critical humanitarian services provided by the 
Mercy personnel and embarked Seabees. 
 
¶11. (U) Local and regional media coverage of the visit events 
was overwhelmingly positive in tone.  Media repeatedly praised 
the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Government, and the U.S. Military for 
their generosity, compassion and commitment to the welfare of 
the Micronesian people.  Prevailing or recurring themes in the 
local and regional media included the following.  The United 
States and FSM share a solid and strong historical relationship. 
 The Mercy mission connected Micronesians and Americans in 
effective exchanges of ideas, skills and cultural nuances.  A 
core value of the Mercy mission is the relationships it created 
here.  Micronesians share untapped capacity at the grass roots 
level to improve their lot in life.  Micronesians need to eat 
more local foods to reduce their high incidence of 
non-communicable lifestyle diseases.  The Mercy Encaps 
significantly improved essential social service infrastructure 
and made critical public facilities safe to use again.  The 
humanitarianism and compassion of the American people are 
sincerely appreciated by Micronesians. 
 
¶12. (U) Embassy was extremely satisfied with the level of DOD 
coordination in advance of and during the mission. LCDR Ryan 
Collins, LT Aaron Hagar, LT Ryan Pierce, HMCM Noel Manlapaz and 
CPO Charles Brown all performed at the highest level of 
professionalism and operational effectiveness, both in advance 
of arrival and during mission activities in the three FSM states 
visited. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Pacific Partnership 2008 had a neutral impact on the 
host nation government's level of preparedness to respond to 
future humanitarian contingencies.  The host nation has no 
military force. Currently, the FSM depends almost totally on aid 
from foreign donor nations and NGOs for emergency response and 
disaster preparedness.   While the Mercy visit provided an 
excellent role model for response to future humanitarian 
contingencies, the lack of capacity and resources, combined with 
overwhelming geographic and political constraints, continue to 
adversely affect local levels of preparedness.  Despite such 
constraints, the visit had a strong impact on raising the 
visibility of in-country NGOs (especially in Chuuk) and it 
demonstrated the power and effectiveness of grass roots 
democracy through mobilization of private citizens and 
communities to achieve social change. 
 
¶14. (SBU) The host nation has very limited capacity to provide 
basic social services to its population (virtually none on its 
numerous outer islands) due to vastly inferior infrastructure 
facilities, geographic constraints, lack of effective 
 
KOLONIA 00000149  003 OF 003 
 
 
self-funding mechanisms and political factors.  It has been 
unable to effectively absorb and efficiently utilize large sums 
of U.S. Compact and non-Compact funding to implement effective 
basic social services.  It enthusiastically welcomed the Mercy's 
visit and provision of these services, but there was very little 
"motivational transfer" in terms of taking on a new sense of 
urgency regarding social service provision by the host nation. 
 
¶15. (SBU) Pacific Partnership 2008 had a neutral impact on the 
host nation population's view of their own government.  The host 
nation has no military force; however, the mission had a 
tremendously positive impact in terms of the local population's 
view of the U.S. Government and the U.S. Military.  In the minds 
of the people of the FSM, this was almost exclusively a U.S. and 
Partner Nation initiative.  They saw, recognized, and remembered 
very little participation in the mission by their own 
government.  However, local NGOs were observed and recognized by 
the host nation population for their roles in contributing to 
the success of the mission. 
 
¶16. (SBU) Pacific Partnership was very effective in operating 
"by, with, and through" the host nation.  This message could and 
perhaps should be conveyed more strongly to avoid creating a 
"culture of expectation."  A more active conveyance of the 
message would prod and provide impetus for the host nation to 
undertake a more active role in providing basic social services 
to its own people. 
 
¶17. (SBU) Embassy recommends a re-visit rate for Pacific 
Partnership to Micronesia of once every three to four years.  We 
wish we could support such an exercise more often.  However, the 
human and physical resources of this embassy are extremely 
limited.  Also, more frequent visits would risk raising an 
unrealistic "culture of expectation" and possibly would dissuade 
the host nation from assuming its own role and responsibility 
for providing basic social services and emergency response and 
disaster preparedness to its own people. 
 
¶18. (U) Embassy recommends a continued mix of ENCAP, 
MEDCAP/DENCAP, VETCAP and SME engagement for future PP missions. 
 Such a multi-pronged approach best meets the needs of local 
populations.  The focus for future missions might be shifted 
somewhat from the main population centers to outer islands, to 
the extent possible, with due consideration for local 
geographic, transportation and infrastructure constraints.  In 
2008, however, the right results were resoundingly achieved. 
HUGHES