VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #0188/01 0491612
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 181612Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1967
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0237
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000188 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/WE 
OSD FOR ANDREW WINTERNITZ 
JOINT STAFF FOR LTC THERESE PAWLOWSKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR NATO AF SP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FEBRUARY 10 CALL ON SPANISH CHIEF OF 
DEFENSE 
 
REF: MADRID 90 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Arnold A. Chacon, for reasons 1.4(b) a 
nd (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The Ambassador called February 10 on Chief 
of Defense (CJCS-equivalent) General Jose Julio Rodriguez. 
The meeting was warm and brief.  The two discussed the issue 
of strategic communications on our shared mission in 
Afghanistan, U.S. access to Spanish military bases, and the 
limited prospects for spending on future capabilities in the 
current budget environment.  Rodriguez also mentioned his 
visits to Afghanistan, NATO Headquarters in Brussels, and 
Istanbul (with Defense Minister Chacon for the defense 
ministers' meeting February 4-5). He said these encounters 
were all positive and that they also reinforced the strong 
relationship between the USG and GOS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) Rodriguez echoed Spanish support for President 
Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan, citing Defense Minister 
Chacon's plans to brief Congress the week of February 15 
regarding Spain's additional promised troops.  Rodriguez 
mentioned that the GOS had decided to increase its deployment 
even before the President Obama's December 2009 strategy 
announcement, and that this reflected a "significant 
commitment" on behalf of the GOS.  Rodriguez stated the 
Spanish Congress would take up the technical details of the 
deployment on February 17.  Rodriguez expected Congress would 
address any lingering legislative concerns, including the 
limitations on Spanish helicopters to perform only a 
predetermined set of mission types.  This would make them 
available for a broader spectrum of operations including 
medical evacuations, civilian support, and military missions. 
 Regarding the deployment schedule for additional troops, 
Rodriguez stated he expected the troops to be on the ground 
by mid-March and said the troops had already been trained and 
were ready to deploy pending orders.  Finally, Rodriguez 
clarified that Spain did not intend to move any troops from 
one location to another within Afghanistan. 
 
¶3.  (C) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for Spain's 
contributions in Afghanistan, as well as for its military 
commitments to Operation Althea in Bosnia. The Ambassador 
said he understood the changing nature of the mission in 
Bosnia, but stressed the USG hopes the GOS will defer any 
decisions regarding the withdrawal of troops until after 
October 2010 elections. 
 
¶4.  (C) The CHOD reiterated several times that the GOS 
understands the need to communicate its Afghanistan policy 
better to both internal and external audiences, but he said 
Spain was not alone in this problem, mentioning specifically 
Canada and the Netherlands. In order to improve strategic 
communications efforts, the GOS will be targeting tailored 
messages to specific audiences. These messages will be 
designed to convey how policies and decisions directly affect 
the targeted audience. A key aspect of the strategy will be 
to change the mindset that Afghanistan is "an American war." 
General Rodriguez emphasized that 44 countries are involved 
and each has a vested interest in the outcome. He also said 
it was important to describe the need to "protect Spanish 
security" against all threats. 
 
¶5. (C) Turning to acquisition programs, the Ambassador asked 
about MOD consideration of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as 
part of a comprehensive modernization strategy to meet 
Spain's defensive requirements.  (Note:  Spain is not a buyer 
or partner yet but has asked to learn more.  End note.) 
Rodriguez indicated the MOD had received its annual budget 
only in January 2010 and noted it had already been cut once. 
He added future programs had all been re-prioritized and that 
nothing would happen in the foreseeable future.  He said that 
the MOD would maintain open channels with the contractor so 
that Spain can stay informed as the program moves forward, 
but emphasized he was in no position to commit to any future 
acquisitions before 2011. 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador thanked Rodriguez for U.S. access to 
Spanish bases and said he was looking forward to visiting 
both Naval Station Rota and Moron Air Force Base the week of 
February 22.  Rodriguez characterized the overall 
 
military-to-military relationship as strong and said he was 
happy with the current amicable environment, thinking it to 
be the most effective way to continue the relationship. In 
closing, Rodriguez invited the Ambassador to contact him 
directly and without hesitation if he needed anything or 
wanted to discuss any issues. 
CHACON