VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAC #0504/01 2191518
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 071518Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8040
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/USSOCOM WO WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCQSAC/SOCSOUTH DEPLOYED MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000504 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOCSOUTH PLEASE PASS TO LTC OTERO, STATE FOR WHA/BSC 
MDASCHBACH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2033 
TAGS: PMASS PHUM MARR MASS PGOV SOCI PINS SNAR PA
SUBJECT: TERMS OF REFERENCE CONCURRENCE FOR MISSION SPA2010TRP502W, 
FY10, DEPLOYMENT OF 1ST PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS BATTALION MILITARY 
INFORMATION SUPPORT TEAM TO PARAGUAY 
 
REF: COMSOCSOUTH 081938ZMAY09 
 
Classified By: DCM Perry Holloway for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) The Ambassador, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation 
Paraguay (USODC), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), US Agency for 
International Development (USAID), and CHOD Benitez concur with the 1st 
Psychological Operations Battalion Military Information Support Team 
(MIST) deployment as outlined here (reftel).  In accordance with the 
TOR, the following information is provided: 
 
¶A. (U//FOUO) Mission File Number: SPA2010TRP502W. 
 
¶B.  (S) MISSION:  Upon order, 1st POB(A) deploys a Military Information 
Support Team (MIST) to Asuncion, Paraguay from 01 OCT 09 through 30 SEP 
10, to conduct the approved Trans-Regional PSYOP Program to support 
stability operations whose purpose is to eliminate internal threats and 
deny conditions that could be exploited by terrorists, drug trafficking 
organizations (DTOQs), and their enablers. MIST will assist in 
establishing host nation control over ungoverned and under-governed 
spaces.  MIST programs will focus on disrupting conditions that are 
exploited by violent extremist/IAGS activities and their enabling 
networks.  As improving governance and supporting institution building 
are inexorably linked, MIST programs must supplement and augment CMO 
and like efforts to deny conditions that could be exploited by violent 
extremist/gangs/IAGS activities and their enabling networks.  These 
programs support stability operations by conducting activities that 
legitimize the HN government, military, and police forces; and focus 
activities on the nodes and centers of gravity that will meet USSOUTHCO 
Country Security Cooperation Plan (CSCP) objectives, and Mission 
Strategic Plan (MSP) objectives of USEMB Paraguay. 
 
¶2. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Concept of Operations: 
 
¶A. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Main body: This is an ongoing mission.  1st POB 
(A) will deploy forces ISO Special Operations Command South information 
operations efforts, USODC Country Security Cooperation Plan objectives, 
and US Embassy Paraguay Mission Strategic Plans objectives ISO the US 
Ambassador and Public Diplomacy efforts by providing technical 
assistance to the designated Partner Nation (PN) unit(s) and applicable 
organizations, and producing/disseminating PSYOP products IAW 
COMSOCSOUTH directives and plans and in coordination with Country Team 
and the approval of the USAMB PRY. 
 
¶B. (C//REL TO USA, PRY) Total personnel deployed: NTE 4 personnel in 
Paraguay. Routine rotation of forces is authorized. 
 
¶C. (S) Justification: SOCSOUTH does not have the organic assets to 
conduct PSYOP planning to support Public Diplomacy and FID efforts.  Th 
MIST will align with other DOD and interagency (IA) information 
operation activities in order to disrupt illegal activities that 
support transnational narcoterrorism and terrorism operations in 
Paraguay.  These activities will assist and enhance the partner nation 
in their ability to deter the establishment of illegal institutions. 
 MIST will support the implementation of a synchronized DOD/IA, CNT, CT 
and rewards information program in order to achieve the objectives of 
the USODC Country Security Cooperation Plan, US Embassy Mission 
Strategic Plan, and further the USG's national strategic objectives. 
This mission will also assist partner nation in promotion of human 
rights objectives supported by SOCSOUTH. 
 
¶3. (U//FOUO) Coordination Requirements:  USODC will meet and assist at 
airport with customs inspections, and other concerns for main body 
deployments; coordinate initial meetings with Country 
Team and Paraguay personnel and agencies; assist with lodging 
reservations for mission personnel during PDSS and main body deployment 
request coordination for vehicles and workspace for mission; 
provide local area and national level threat and intelligence briefs 
for Paraguay to main body upon arrival; provide information on 
Paraguayan holidays that could impact main body, and support 
coordination for storage of sensitive items. MIST personnel will 
coordinate details of the evacuation and recovery (E/R) plan with the 
Joint Staff Support (J-2), SOCSOUTH, and USODC. 
 
¶4. Human Rights (HR):  HR will be addressed in accordance with 
Combatant Command Policy Memo, 28 Aug 96, Subject: United States 
Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) HR Policy.  Deploying force 
members will conduct HR training and deploy with USSOUTHCOM HR Standing 
Orders, (CARD) SC Form 165, 01 Nov 07, IAW USSOUTHCOM Human Rights 
Training Program of Instruction, 19 Jun 96. 
 
¶5. (U) Airborne/Airmobile Operations:  Airborne/Airmobile operations 
are not authorized. 
 
 
¶6. (U) Command and Control:  The SOCFWD-PRY commander will have 
operational control (OPCON), and USODC Chief will be the Combatant 
Commander South designated risk determination authority 
and have tactical control (TACON) for Force Protection over deployed 
forces.  Post is currently reviewing Annex A/B designations and the 
results could modify these command and control relationships. 
 
¶7. (C) USODC provides the following force protection assessments for 
Paraguay: 
 
¶A. (C) There are currently no active indigenous terrorist organizations 
in Paraguay.  There are no political groups or parties that are 
currently active in this country that are specifically targeting U.S. 
interests.  However, given the presence of sympathizers and support for 
extremist terrorist groups in the Tri-Border Area of Paraguay, 
Argentina, and Brazil visitors here cannot discount the possibility of 
terrorist activity, to include random acts of anti-American violence. 
The general threat in the designated training areas in and around 
Asuncion is low for domestic terrorism and high for crime.  In 
addition, the threat is medium for transnational terrorism throughout 
the country.  There is no known targeting of U.S. personnel. 
 
¶B. (U) The USODC, in conjunction with the Regional Security Office 
(RSO), will continue with force protection assessments and will advise 
of any changes that could impact the training. 
 
¶C. (U//FOUO) Status of Forces: Combatant Commander will coordinate to 
ensure deploying Department of Defense (DOD) personnel receive 
in-theater briefings concerning legal status of DOD 
personnel in Paraguay.  Combatant Commander, as Risk Determination 
Authority, has approved presence of Special Operations Forces in 
Paraguay without SOFA protections or Administrative and 
Technical (A&T) status. COMSOCSOUTH delegates administrative control of 
deploying unit, for status purposes only, to CDR USODC Asuncion. 
¶8. (S) Product Approval: PSYOP products that have substantial political 
or strategic implications will be forwarded to USSOUTHCOM for USD (P) 
approval.  The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special 
Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) will expedite approval 
(with interagency coordination as required) to ensure timely 
availability for use.  CDRUSSOUTHCOM will delegate product approval 
authority to: During peacetime activities, CDRSOUTHCOM delegates 
product approval and dissemination authority to Chief of Mission (COM). 
The U.S. Ambassador or his/her designated representative will have fina 
product approval and dissemination authority of all PSYOP products 
intended for dissemination during peacetime activities.  During 
contingencies short of war, CDRUSSOUTHCOM delegates product approval to 
the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander or equivalent. Upon shift of 
delegation from COM to the JTF Commander, JTF Commander or equivalent 
will have final product approval and dissemination authority of all 
PSYOP products intended for dissemination ISO the contingency operation 
Although the JTF CDR has final approval, all products will be 
coordinated with USEMB. 
 
¶9. (U//FOUO) Public Affairs: Public affairs posture for this deployment 
is passive.  Deployed personnel may discuss unclassified aspects of the 
mission outlined in specific public affairs guidance to be 
published. 
 
¶10. (C) Country Team concurs with the deployment dates of October 1st 
2009 - September 30th, 2010. 
 
¶A. (U) Main location of this deployment will be Asuncion with 
additional locations as authorized by the SOCFWD-PRY commander and 
Chief, USODC in conjunction with Embassy Asuncion. 
 
¶11. (U) A SOCFWD-PRY operations non-commissioned officer (NCO) will 
provide threat update upon arrival in coordination with RSO. 
¶12. (U) All personnel and equipment will arrive via commercial air or 
contracted freight.  Personnel will not arrive via military air (MILAIR 
without prior coordination. Country Clearance approval will only be 
authorized if the Department of StateQs e-Country Clearance (eCC) 
system is used; clearances sent via the DOD APACS system will not be 
approved.  Any questions about the eCC can be answered by going 
to the following web site: 
https://ecc.state.gov/security/EccLogin.aspx 
 
¶13. (U) Deploying equipment:  Personnel are not authorized to deploy 
with weapons and must deploy with organic equipment minus weapons.  Any 
weapons needed for Force Protection reasons will be provided by 
SOCFWD-PRY after approval from the USODC Chief and in accordance with 
the Embassy Weapons Policy. 
 
¶14.  (U) USODC POC for this deployment is Army Section Chief, Major 
Robert Armstrong, tel:  COM 
 
 
(301)985-9395; DSN 294-9000 then dial 59395; cell phone 
011-595-971-377-122; NIPR e-mail 
robert.armstrong@tcsc.southcom.mil; SIPR e-mail 
robert.armstrong@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil 
¶15. (U) SOCFWD-PRY POC is MAJ Jason Brizek, SOCFWD-PRY Operations 
Officer; tel:  COM 011-595-2121-3715, extension 2046; cell phone 
011-595-981-300-178; NIPR e-mail 
Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.mil; and SIPR e-mail 
Jason.brizek@socso.southcom.smil.mil 
 
HOLLOWAY