VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMV #1018/01 3450920
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 100920Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0602

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONROVIA 001018 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR M/PRI,AF/W,AF/EX, 
DIA PASS TO CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2018 
TAGS: AODE KMRS AMGT LI
SUBJECT: NSDD-38-COM APPROVAL FOR DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE 
AGENCY REQUEST TO ESTABLISH TECHNICIAN POSITION IN 
MONROVIA, LIBERIA 
 
REF: A. 07 STATE 127543 
     ¶B. 07 MONROVIA 1354 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, REASON 1.4(d) 
 
(C)  THE CHIEF OF MISSION APPROVES THE CREATION OF THE GG-10 
INTELLIGENCE TECHNICIAN POSITION REQUESTED IN REF A.  POST 
HAS NOW FILLED ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT POSITIONS AND 
HAS LOCATED ADDITIONAL OFF-COMPOUND HOUSING, SO THE 
CONSTRAINTS THAT PREVENTED EARLIER APPROVAL (REF B) ARE NO 
LONGER A FACTOR.  AS NOTED IN REF B, COM AGREES WITH DIA'S 
ASSESSMENT OF DAO MONROVIA STAFFING GROWTH NEEDS, FULLY 
SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THIS POSITION, AND UNDERSTANDS DIA 
EXPECTS TO FILL IT BY SUMMER 2009.  WHEN THIS POSITION IS 
FILLED, DAO MONROVIA WILL HAVE FOUR POSITIONS. 
 
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IN & GUIDANCE FOR COM NSDD-38 REQUESTS: 
 
¶2. (U)  QUESTION 1:  IS THE NEED FOR THE PROPOSED STAFFING 
CHANGE REFLECTED IN THE MOST RECENT MSP?  IF SO, UNDER WHICH 
GOAL? IF NOT, WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED TO JUSTIFY THE 
NSDD-38 PROPOSAL? 
 
¶3.  (C) ANSWER: NO, THIS POSITION WAS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR 
MSP.  WE UNDERSTAND THE REQUEST IS A RESULT OF 
DOD/WASHINGTON'S DECISION ABOUT HOW DEFENSE ATTACH OFFICES 
SHOULD BE STAFFED TO MEET NEW AND EMERGING REQUIREMENTS.  WE 
ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE AND 
DOD REGARDING THIS POSITION, AND CAN CONFIRM THAT THIS 
POSITION HAS BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN THE OFFICE SPACE PLANNING 
FOR THE NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND, WHICH IS SLATED TO BE COMPLETED 
IN 2011.  THE MSP GOAL SUPPORTED WOULD BE REGIONAL SECURITY. 
 
¶4.  (U) QUESTION 2:  IF THE AGENCY PROPOSES TO ADD STAFFING 
BASED ON WORKLOAD, ARE THERE OTHER RESOURCES ALREADY PRESENT 
AT POST THAT ARE PERFORMING OR COULD PERFORM THE FUNCTION? 
 
¶5.  (C) ANSWER: CURRENTLY, THE DATT, MARA, AND OPSCO ARE 
CARRYING OUT THEIR OWN DUTIES AS WELL AS THE DUTIES AN 
INTELLIGENCE TECHNICIAN WOULD PERFORM.  THE USDAO IS 
UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS, AND THE ADDITION 
OF A TECHNICIAN WOULD ENHANCE OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE 
COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. 
 
6.(U)  QUESTION 3: COULD THE FUNCTION BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH 
THE USE OF TDY, FOREIGN NATIONAL, CONTRACT, OR OTHER LOCAL 
HIRE PERSONNEL? 
 
¶7. (C) ANSWER: THE CLASSIFIED NATURE OF THE FUNCTION AND 
ONGOING NATURE OF THE PROPOSED WORK PLAN REQUIRE A DIRECT 
HIRE CLEARED AMERICAN.  IN PRINCIPLE, A SERIES OF TDYERS 
COULD PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NEEDED, BUT IN REALITY THAT IS NOT 
FEASIBLE BECAUSE OF TDY COSTS WOULD BE COST-PROHIBITIVE AND 
TDY STAFF WOULD CREATE A HEAVY DEMAND FOR CONSTANT 
ORIENTATION AND SUPERVISION. 
 
¶8. (U) QUESTION 4: IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC ADMINISTRATIVE 
SUPPORT, SPACE AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN 
MADE FOR THE INCREASE IN STAFFING. 
 
¶9.  (C) ANSWER: OFFICE SPACE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THIS 
POSITION ON THE EMBASSY COMPOUND AND HOUSING WILL BE 
AVAILABLE IN THE EMBASSY HOUSING POOL.  FULL RANGE OF ICASS 
SUPPORT SERVICES ARE APPROXIMATELY $95,000 PER YEAR.  START 
UP COSTS AND FIRST YEAR RENT TOTAL $130,750.  DIA WILL COVER 
THESE EXPENSES AS WELL AS ONGOING EXPENSES SUCH AS SALARY, 
ALLOWANCES, AND TRAVEL. 
 
ICASS COST CENTERS: 
 
6150 BASIC PACKAGE, 
6145 GENERAL SERVICES, 
6225 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, 
6443 CLO, 
6445 PERSONNEL SERVICES, 
5458 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL SUPPORT, 
5624 HEALTH SERVICES, 
5826 LOCAL GUARD PROGRAM, 
6196 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, 
7810 BUILDING OPERATIONS/GO/LTL RESIDENTIAL, 
7820 BUILDING OPERATIONS/CO/NON-RESIDENTIAL, 
7850 BUILDING OPERATIONS/STL/RESIDENTIAL, AND 
8790 OVERHEAD 
 
START-UP COSTS: 
 
FF&AO (FURNITURE POOL)=$67,000 
RENTAL = $48,000/YEAR 
 
UTILITIES - $15,000/YEAR 
LL TELEPHONE SE = $250 
LICENSE =$500 
 
10.(U) DO THE BENEFITS OF INCREASING THE STAFF OUTWEIGH THE 
INHERENT SECURITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL? 
 
11.(C) YES.  THIS POSITION IS CRITICAL TO THE EFFECTIVENESS 
OF MONROVIA'S DAO OPERATIONS.  WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MONROVIA 
IS STILL A 15% DANGER PAY POST, BUT LIBERIA IS ON A POSITIVE 
TRACK.  WE HAVE WEIGHED THE BENEFITS AND RISKS AND WE BELIEVE 
THE BENEFITS GREATLY OUTWEIGH THE RISKS. 
 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD