VZCZCXRO6051
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSM #0751/01 3121801
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071801Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3878
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0089
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STOCKHOLM 000751 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2018 
TAGS: EAID MCAP MOPS PGOV PREL AF SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN LIKELY TO UP ISAF TROOPS BUT BILL DELAYED 
UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Marc Koehler for reasons 1.4 (B) & (D). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Sweden has once again delayed the submission 
of its ISAF authorization bill to Parliament to November 
17-19, citing "differences in interpretation of the wording" 
as the main problem.  Sweden is discussing raising the number 
of troops in Afghanistan from 375 to around 500, by sending a 
C-130, medevac helicopters, support crews, and additional 
maneuver elements.  Sweden has earmarked 15-20 percent of its 
$60 million in aid (2007) for the four northern provinces, 
but admitted that locals in the North were seeing very little 
of this due to bottlenecks in Kabul.  Sweden would like to 
increase the number of civilian advisors to improve 
development in the North.  End Summary. 
 
SECURITY SITUATION 
------------------ 
 
¶2. (C) On November 4, MOD civilian staff, including Deputy 
Director Johanna Gardmark and Desk Officers Victoria Hjort 
and Cecilia Helander, and LTCOL Claes Bitterlich of the J5, 
briefed Emboffs on Sweden's civilian and military commitment 
to Afghanistan.  Helander stated that security has 
deteriorated somewhat in the North, but that the situation 
was "stable."  She cited criminal activities, ethnic 
disputes, corruption, drug smuggling, local power-brokers, 
opposition to the central government, and an insurgent attack 
on two NGO personnel in Mazar-e-Sharif in February as the 
major challenges. 
 
ISAF AUTHORIZATION BILL DELAYED (AGAIN) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Hjort informed us that the draft ISAF extension bill, 
originally scheduled to have been submitted to Parliament in 
October and then rescheduled to early November, has been 
delayed yet again.  She cited interdepartmental "differences 
in interpreting the wording" of the draft text as the primary 
delay, but could not give us a date for submission. 
Separately, MFA officials offered that the bill could be 
submitted November 17-19.  The existing authorization expires 
December 20.  MFA contacts told POL Counselor that the 
differences are now being discussed between the state 
secretaries (i.e., deputies) in the MFA and Defense Ministry 
and relate to the specific number of civilian advisors and 
military maneuver elements to be authorized.  Despite the 
delay, Helander commented that Sweden has contributed to ISAF 
since 2001 and emphasized that Sweden has a "long-term" 
commitment to Afghanistan. 
 
¶4. (C) As regards the proposed new bill, Helander said Sweden 
is discussing increasing the authorized troop ceiling, 
currently 600, and press reports cite military sources as 
indicating that the new bill might include language 
authorizing up to 800 troops.  But these figures represent 
permitted upper limits, allowing the Swedes to "surge" troops 
to Afghanistan in the event of an "emergency," according to 
MOD and MFA contacts.  The actual number of troops on the 
ground now is roughly 375, and the actual troop increase 
being considered is roughly 100, to operate a C-130, medevac 
helicopters, and possibly additional maneuver elements to 
supplement the one rifle brigade currently deployed.  Of the 
above, probably only the C-130 would not have "geographical 
caveats" and be authorized to operate nationwide.  Helander 
noted that Sweden also wants to provide more military mentors 
to support OMLTs working with the Afghan National Army (ANA); 
there is apparently some discussion about geographical 
caveats for these troops, though MOD and MFA are urging that 
they be allowed to operate wherever their ANA trainees go. 
 
CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION HAMPERED BY BUREAUCRATS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶5. (C) Hjort stated that the military-civilian cooperation 
works smoothly in the field, but is "hampered" by bureaucracy 
in Sweden.  She cited the lack of a "comprehensive strategy" 
as a problem for Sweden.  Hjort told us Sweden has 
established an MFA-led "inter-agency" group consisting of the 
Ministry of Justice, MOD, Swedish International Development 
Agency (SIDA), Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Rescue 
Service.  She opined that the new group would meet weekly to 
ensure that "everyone is on the same page" and able to make 
quick decisions without needing Parliamentary approval. 
 
¶6. (C) Hjort confirmed that Sweden has earmarked 15-20 
percent of its $60 million in aid (2007) for the four 
 
STOCKHOLM 00000751  002 OF 002 
 
 
northern provinces, but admitted that locals in the North 
were seeing very little of this.  She stated that the Swedish 
Embassy and SIDA are examining why the funds are being held 
up in Kabul.  Hjort opined that Sweden would like to send 
more civilian advisors to the North to improve development, 
adding that this would require greater logistical and 
security support on the ground. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment: SIDA's reported refusal to work with or near 
Swedish troops in the North presents a problem.  Without 
adequate protection, civilian development advisors may find 
it difficult to travel in some of the more isolated and 
dangerous areas of the four provinces.  Sweden's Alliance 
government and most opposition parties say they support a 
long-term commitment to Afghanistan, but should security 
continue to deteriorate and Swedish casualties (only two to 
date) increase, they worry that public support might plunge. 
End Comment. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) In 2006, Sweden became the lead nation for the 
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) headquartered in 
Mazar-e-Sharif that is responsible for the provinces of 
Balkh, Samangan, Jowzjan, and Sar-e-Pul.  The PRT has a total 
of 500 people in Afghanistan, which includes roughly 370 
Swedish and nearly 100 Finnish troops, and two civilian 
advisors (one political and one development).  Military 
forces are based at Camp Northern Lights in Mazar-e-Sharif, a 
Norwegian field hospital, Military Observer Teams (MOTs) in 
Samangan, Jowzjan, and Sar-e-Pul provinces, and a National 
Intelligence Cell in Kabul.  Sweden also provides soldiers to 
two OMLTs based out of Camp Mike Spann, about 12 kilometers 
from Mazar-e-Sharif. 
WOOD