VZCZCXRO2186
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2271/01 3010805
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280805Z OCT 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5587
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 2895
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA IMMEDIATE 2552
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA IMMEDIATE 0150
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 002271 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/RSP, PM/PPA (J KNOCH, S KWAK); USPACOM FOR 
J5; SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER KTIA MARR MASS MOPS MCAP BG CB CE
ID, FJ, MY, TH, RP 
SUBJECT: MANILA ENDORSEMENT FOR FY10 1206 PROPOSAL FOR 
PACOM REGION 
 
REF: STATE 92407 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Representatives of Embassies Manila, 
Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Suva (for Tonga), Phnom Penh, 
Dhaka and Colombo (for Maldives) met with U.S. Pacific 
Command (PACOM) representatives in Bangkok in August 2009 to 
finalize FY2010 regional 1206 proposals approved by PACOM 
with active coordination from other regional missions.  This 
year's $97.2 million Combatant Command request includes 
funding for Tongan participation in military operations in 
Afghanistan, immediate operational requirements for the 
Philippines and urgent and emergent CT efforts in Maldives, 
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. 
Embassy Manila strongly endorses the regional 1206 proposals 
and concurs with the prioritization agreed to in the working 
group meeting in August in Bangkok.  End Summary. 
 
A REGIONAL PROPOSAL AFFECTING THREE KEY AREAS 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) DOD and State officials from Embassies Manila, 
Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Dhaka, Suva and 
Colombo, in collaboration with PACOM, developed 1206 
proposals designed to promote host-nation capabilities to 
counter threats in the PACOM region.  The FY10 proposal for 
1206 includes funding for Tongan military participation in 
military operations in Afghanistan, and builds upon past 
efforts which established capacity to interdict near the 
Strait of Malacca and the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas.  This year 
we have also focused on emerging threats in Maldives, 
Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.  These areas are 
priorities in the war on terrorism in South and Southeast 
Asia. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Our top FY10 CT proposals facilitate direct 
engagement of terrorist networks.  In addition to direct 
engagement, a number of PACOM proposals advance the effort to 
build maritime domain awareness and provide synergy among 
maritime radar systems, including uniformity of equipment 
that would facilitate future interoperability among maritime 
security efforts.  We also aim to develop command and control 
centers to integrate maritime intelligence and extend 
targeted counterterrorism capabilities while developing 
host-nation interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities. 
As mandated, human rights training will be included as part 
of all approved 1206 programs. 
 
¶4. (SBU) PACOM worked with interagency representatives across 
South and Southeast Asia to provide a conceptual framework 
for individual country proposals.  Early versions of the 1206 
proposals were presented at the PACOM Security Assistance 
Conference in June for preliminary review, and all CT 
proposals were reviewed again at a working group in August 
with the participation of members across the interagency 
including DOS political officers, Joint Interagency Task 
Force-West, Offices of Defense Cooperation, and 
representatives from the different sections of PACOM. 
Subsequently, all proposals were further vetted before being 
approved by the PACOM Commander.  The counterterrorism review 
criteria included:  documented urgent or emergent terrorist 
threats; capability gaps related to terrorist threats; 
alignment with the Ambassador's Mission Strategic Plan and 
PACOM's Theater Campaign Plan; sustainable by host nation; 
capable of being carried out on time and within budget; 
consistent with program requirements; not inimical to U.S. 
interests (Leahy law); within host nation absorption 
capacity; and acceptable to partner nations. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The result of the PACOM Security Assistance 
Conference in June and the working group meeting in Bangkok 
in August was the following list of proposed projects (in 
rank order): 
 
(1) Tonga, Tonga Deployment to Afghanistan (Stability 
Operations), $1.3 m 
(2) Philippines, Equipment to Support Close Air Support 
Operations (Counter-Terrorism), $8.0 m 
(3) Philippines, Force Recon Bn Marine Strike Company (CT), 
$9.3 m 
(4) Bangladesh, Multi-Mission Cooperation, Mobility, Weapons 
and Night Vision Devices (NVDs) (CT), $9.6 m 
 
MANILA 00002271  002 OF 003 
 
 
(5) Maldives, CT and Intelligence Package (CT), $3.4 m 
(6) Malaysia, CT Interagency Communications (CT), $7.0 m 
(7) Indonesia, Helicopter Interdiction Capability (CT), $7.6 m 
(8) Indonesia, Naval Maritime Interdiction Capability (CT), 
$12.5 
(9) Cambodia, National Counter Terrorism Special Force Ground 
Equipment (CT), $6.3 m 
(10) Philippines, Equipment for the Naval Special Operations 
Unit (CT), $6.0 m 
(11) Thailand, IED Site Mitigation and Forensic Tracking 
(Army) (CT), $2.0 m 
(12) Philippines, Inshore Boat Battalion (CT), $10.8 m 
(13) Cambodia, Maritime C3 and Coastal Watch (CT), $7.3 m 
(14) Cambodia, Maritime CT Unit, $6.1 m 
 
TOTAL $97.2 m 
 
¶6. (SBU) Embassy Manila strongly endorses the regional 1206 
proposals and concurs with the prioritization listed in para. 
¶4.  The following is a summary of Embassy Manila's proposed 
projects (additional information is available upon request): 
 
-- Equipment to Support Close Air Support (CAS) Operations 
($8.0 m). 
 
Project Description:  Provide the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines (AFP) with critical components required to 
augment current AFP systems and allow a precision-guided 
munitions (PGM) capability, including laptop computers loaded 
with software to program and control the weapons systems; a 
wireless link to the weapon guidance systems for bombs; 
Rockwell/Collins TALON V / UHF radios for aircraft; upgraded 
equipment and training for AFP Forward Air Controllers (PFAC) 
to support CAS operations.  By providing a common, secure 
communication link between AFP aviation assets fitted with 
precision guided munitions and PFACs, the armed forces will 
be able to independently develop and respond to real-time 
actionable intelligence with their airborne weaponry.  The 
proposed program would provide the AFP with critical 
components required to augment current systems to attain PGM 
capability, while keeping U.S. control of sensitive 
technology. 
 
-- Force Reconnaissance Battalion Marine Strike Company ($9.3 
m). 
 
Project Description:  Increase the ability of the AFP's Force 
Reconnaissance Battalion (FRBn) to fully integrate and 
operate as one of the premier Tier 1 Coast Watch South (CWS) 
interdiction units. Currently, the FRBn does not work with 
the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) or CWS, although 
they are outfitted with a fleet of Combat Rubber Raiding 
Craft (CRRC) and are tactically and doctrinally matched with 
the JSOG mission.  The FRBn Marine Strike Companies are 
comprised of four distinct, yet complementary elements: 
Direct Action Squads, Security Teams, Reconnaissance and 
Surveillance Teams and Sniper Teams.  Provision of tailored, 
mission-specific packages comprised of weapons, navigation 
and communication equipment, night vision and personal 
protective gear will enable the FRBn to integrate into the 
JSOG.  The JSOG will be immeasurably enhanced by addition of 
the FRBn Marine Strike Companies. This will build upon and 
complete the FRBn outfitting project begun with FY09 1206 
funding to outfit the first FRBn Strike Company. 
 
-- Equipment for Naval Special Operation Units ($6.0 m) 
 
Project Description:  Increase the ability of the AFP's Naval 
Special Operations Units (SOUs) to fully integrate and 
operate with the AFP's Joint Special Operations Group and as 
one of the premier Coast Watch South interdiction units. 
Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) will provide a flexible, 
inexpensive and easily maintained platform from which naval 
SOU's can conduct near-shore interdiction and vessel boarding 
search and seizure, combined reconnaissance and surveillance, 
and littoral insertion and extraction.  CRRC's are easily 
integrated into the current Philippine Navy 78-foot Patrol 
Craft platform for rapid deployment and increased range of 
operations.  Integrated weapons, navigation and 
communications equipment will make the naval SOU's extremely 
effective interdiction and apprehension platforms. 
 
MANILA 00002271  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
-- Inshore Boat Battalion ($10.8 m) 
 
Project Description:  Provide U.S. Marine Corps Small Unit 
Riverine Craft (SURC) for riverine and inshore patrols, 
insert and extract operations, and blockade missions to the 
Inshore Boat Battalion (IBBn).  The IBBn is primarily 
deployed to the Western Mindanao Command.  The SURC will 
allow IBBn to operate in two feet of water and land Marines 
onshore or conduct intercept and boarding operations in Sea 
State 3.  The package will include crew served weapons, night 
vision, GPS and radar navigation, secure communications and 
personal team equipment. 
 
SUPPORTS KEY U.S. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Combating terrorism and promoting regional stability 
in South and Southeast Asia are key U.S. national priorities 
and Section 1206 assistance is a central component of USG 
efforts to achieve these objectives. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Our FY10 1206 proposal would provide essential 
counter-terrorism capabilities to key partner nations in the 
region and would afford the United States unique 
opportunities to influence and shape a regional counter 
terrorism strategy.  Most immediately, it would provide a 
capability to disrupt violent extremist organizations such as 
Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf Group, and other terrorist 
organizations.  The proposed projects seek to complement and 
support planned and existing multilateral efforts, such as 
the Department's Regional Strategic Initiative and trilateral 
maritime security talks between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the 
Philippines. 
 
LEAHY VETTING 
------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Embassy Manila affirms that it is not aware of any 
credible evidence of gross violations of human rights by any 
units which would receive assistance under the 1206 project 
proposals listed in para. 4.  Embassy Manila also 
acknowledges the requirement to undertake Leahy vetting for 
all units, if the projects are funded, per normal foreign 
assistance procedures (as requested in para. 11 of Reftel). 
 
POINTS OF CONTACT 
----------------- 
 
¶10. (U) For PACOM, please contact: 
 
CDR Gerry Job 
Phone: 808-477-0928 
Unclass Gerald.job@pacom.mil 
Classified Gerald.job@pacom.smil.mil, or 
 
MAJ Robert Hawthorne 
Phone: 808-477-9539 
Unclass robert.hawthorne@pacom.mil 
Classified Robert.hawthorne@pacom.smil.mil, or 
 
MAJ Tom Stevenson 
Phone: 808-477-0943 
Unclass Thomas.m.stevenson@pacom.mil 
Classified Thomas.stevenson@pacom.smil.mil 
 
For Embassy Manila, please contact: 
 
Peter Hemsch 
Phone: 63-2-301-2000 x6305 
Unclass hemschpg@state.gov 
Classified hemschpg@state.sgov.gov 
KENNEY