VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4442 0491355
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 181352Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T STATE 014442 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2020 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MU
SUBJECT: (S) ASSESSMENT REQUEST TO SURVEY SITES IN OMAN 
FOR POTENTIAL CARGO TRANSLOAD OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF 
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 
 
Classified By: (U) CLASSIFIED BY: NEA ACTING A/S RONALD SCHLICHER 
FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 8. 
 
¶2. (S) SUMMARY: Department requests that Embassy Muscat draw 
on the talking points in paragraph 8 to request additional 
access to the Port of Salalah and Thumrait Air Base and to 
appropriate personnel, between 28 Feb to 7 Mar 2010, for the 
purpose of conducting detailed planning and assessment for 
the use of these facilities to support cargo transload 
operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Afghanistan beginning no later than 1 May 2010.  Should the 
result of the planning effort conclude the use of the Port of 
Salalah and Thumrait Air Base to be the best option, a 
separate formal request will be conveyed to obtain the 
enhanced use of these facilities.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------- 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶3. (S) President Obama has authorized an increase of 30,000 
U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, which will require 
expanded air and sea lines of communication (LOCs) to support 
individual and unit cargo requirements.  In support of this 
increase and on going Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 
requirements, USCENTCOM desires expanded cargo operations 
using the port of Salalah, Oman as the Sea Port of 
Debarkation and Embarkation (SPOD/E) and Thumrait AB, Oman as 
the Air Port of Debarkation and Embarkation (APOD/E).  These 
locations will be targeted to receive U.S. and OEF cargo in 
support of the increase. 
 
¶4. (S) USTRANSCOM, in support of USCENTCOM, desires to 
commence operations in Salalah and Thumrait no later than 1 
May 2010.  Current planning anticipates that operations will 
be heaviest between May to September 2010 in support of the 
surge, and then transition to steady state operations for the 
duration of OEF. 
 
¶5.  (S) USCENTCOM plans for the movement of containerized and 
breakbulk cargo into the port of Salalah starting 
approximately 1 May 2010, the movement of containerized and 
break bulk cargo from SPOD/E to Thumrait AB and the movement 
from Thumrait AB to Airbases in Afghanistan via C-17.  The 
concept for Thumrait AB, as the APOD/E, is for up to six 
C-17s initially stationed at the airfield with surge 
capability to receive an additional six C-17 aircraft. 
Additionally, the plan will include options for up to three 
USTC transitory commercial B-747, AN-124, or other wide body 
aircraft. 
 
¶6.  (S) To fully develop this plan, USCENTCOM and USTRANSCOM 
planners plan to conduct a site survey at Salalah Port and 
Thumrait AB, 28 February to 7 March 2010 in order to develop 
a detailed plan that includes necessary life support, 
petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL), infrastructure, etc. 
required to: 1) sustain operations at Thumrait AB; 2) ensure 
adequate secure storage space at Salalah and Thumrait to hold 
containerized and break bulk cargo; and 3) develop a 
commercial base plan to transit cargo from port of Salalah to 
Thumrait AB to ensure daily airlift requirements are 
available for airlift upload.  Planning will reflect that 
break bulk cargo will be at least tarped while transiting 
from the Port of Salalah to Thumrait AB.  Planning will also 
address procedures to handle critical/sensitive equipment. 
 
¶7. (S) The proposed mission involves only U.S. forces.  It is 
anticipated that U.S. forces would be based and operate at 
Thumrait AB and coordinate and contract commercial support 
for operations at the Port of Salalah. 
 
-------------- 
TALKING POINTS 
-------------- 
 
¶8. (S/ REL OMAN) Department instructs Embassy Muscat to 
pursue the following objectives with the appropriate Omani 
government officials: 
 
-- Inform GoO that the U.S. commends and is deeply 
appreciative of the GoO's robust support to U.S. forces and 
operations over the years and that the U.S. continues to need 
stable facilities options to provide logistical support to 
operations in Afghanistan. 
 
-- Inform the GoO that, per past surveys in Oman and 
throughout the region, the USG has determined that Thumrait 
Air Base and the Port of Salalah are potentially best-suited 
to support the cargo transload mission in support of 
operations in Afghanistan, and desires to conduct a final 
site survey specific to the proposed operation. 
 
-- Inform the GoO that sustaining Allied and Coalition forces 
via Thumrait Air Base and Port of Salalah may be an integral 
part of the intended mission and President Obama's broader 
strategy to stabilize the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. 
 
-- Drawing on the background provided above, brief the 
appropriate officials on the proposed cargo operation. 
 
-- Request that the GoO permit DoD planners to meet with 
personnel at the Port of Salalah and Thumrait Air Base, 1 to 
3 March 2010, to discuss detailed capabilities and 
requirements to support the proposed cargo transload 
operations in support of OEF. 
 
-- Inform the GoO that this request is only for access to 
conduct planning and assessment and that a separate request 
would be made to begin operations using the Port of Salalah 
and Thumrait Air Base pending the final assessment 
recommendation of the planners. 
 
-- Note that, if Oman ultimately approves the operation, the 
U.S. is willing to discuss infrastructure upgrades and 
staffing assistance but would request immediate use of the 
airfield by C-17s while we discuss longer term infrastructure 
upgrades. 
 
------------------ 
REPORTING DEADLINE 
------------------ 
 
¶9. (S) Please report host government responses via front 
channel cable to both State (PM/RSAT and NEA/ARP) and DoD 
(OSD/ISA and OSD/APSA) no later than February 22, 2010. 
CLINTON