VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSN #1247/01 3081504
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 031504Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0265
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0052
RUEKJCS/USSOCOM WO WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCQSOC/USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001247
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: ES PGOV PREL MOPS MARR
SUBJECT: SALVADORAN MOD WITHOUT REPLY ON IRAQ SOFA
REF: BAGHDAD 3351
Classified By: Robert I. Blau, CDA, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1.(C) Summary: Minister of Defense Molina told MilGrp
Commander October 29 that he is concerned about the lack of
progress of an official invitation from Iraq that would
provide the Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF) a legal basis to
remain in Iraq after December 31, 2008. Molina said he would
be traveling to Iraq December 2-8, with a stop in Washington
on December 3, and would like to meet with the U.S. Secretary
of Defense on December 3 to discuss the situation. An
appointment request with Deputy Secretary Negroponte is
pending. He provided non-paper that lists the key issues for
El Salvador and a redeployment plan in case an invitation is
not forthcoming. This cable transmits the text of the MOD
non-paper on this subject. End Summary.
2. (C) Minister of Defense Molina (MOD) told MilGrp Commander
October 29 that he is concerned with the lack of progress on
an official invitation from Iraq to allow Salvadoran Armed
Forces (ESAF) to remain in Iraq after December 31, 2008. He
stressed that without a legal basis for remaining in Iraq,
the ESAF could not continue in Iraq and that the MOD had to
plan for the worst case scenario. He also said that CENTCOM
had asked the Ministry for a plan.
3. (C) Molina said he would be traveling to Iraq December
2-8, with a stop in Washington on December 3. He said that
this trip would be the last chance for an official invitation
from Iraq, but that would not give the Ministry much time to
conduct mission analysis and to provide a recommendation to
President Saca. Nonetheless, he said, he would try as hard
as possible since it is an important mission.
4. (C) Molina said that he would like to meet with the U.S.
Secretary of Defense on December 3 to get an update and
discuss a way forward. (Note: An appointment request with
Deputy Secretary Negroponte is pending.) He said that the
Minister of Foreign Affairs may accompany him to Washington
and Iraq.
5. (C) Molina provided the following non-paper (original
e-mailed to WHA/CEN and SOUTHCOM) that lists the key issues
for the Salvadorans and describes the redeployment plan in
the case that there is no official invitation or extension of
the UN resolution.
6. (C) Begin unofficial translation of non-paper:
RELATIVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF EL SALVADOR IN IRAQ
-- AWAITING AN OFFICIAL REQUEST FROM THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT
-- NEED TO KNOW THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM STRATEGIC CONTEXT
FOR IRAQ (DOD, DOS)
-- WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION OF OTHER COUNTRIES REPRESENT
FOR THE UNITED STATES?
-- WHAT DOES EL SALVADOR,S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ
REPRESENT TO THE UNITED STATES? WHAT CRITERIA WERE
CONSIDERED FOR THE INCORPORATION OF EL SALVADOR IN THE LIST
OF COUNTRIES?
-- NEED THE PROBABLE REQUEST OR INVITATION FROM THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE APPROPRIATE
PLANNING ACTIONS AND DECISION CYCLE
-- POSSIBLE VISIT OF IRAQI OFFICIALS, OR SALVADORAN
OFFICIALS' TRIP TO WASHINGTON, TO MEET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF
IRAQ AND WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND DEFENSE OFFICIALS
-- PROCESS:
- RECEIVE REQUEST FROM THE GOI
- RELATIVE ANALYSIS OF TASKS, SITUATION, GEOGRAPHICAL AREA ETC. ACCORDING TO THE (ABOVE) REQUEST
- IDENTIFICATION OF CAPABILITIES
- IDENTIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS
- RECOMMENDATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
- IDENTIFICATION OF NECESSITIES
- INITIATION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND PREPARATION OF THE
CONTINGENT
-- DEVELOPMENT OF A BILATERAL EL SALVADOR-IRAQ AGREEMENT
-- DEVELOPMENT OR UPDATE OF THE STANDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL SALVADOR-UNITED STATES IS REQUIRED
-- DISCUSSIONS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES AND IN LOCAL MEDIA
-- IF REQUEST FROM GOI IS NOT RECEIVED, THE TIME LIMITS FOR A REDEPLOYMENT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING: (INFORMATION REQUIRED
FROM CENTCOM)
- 31DEC008: END OF MISSION
- THROUGH 20JAN009: TURN IN INVENTORIES IN CAMP DELTA TO AL KUT
- 22-25JAN009: CARGO TRANSPORTATION TO EL SALVADOR
- 26-31JAN009: CUSCATLAN BATALLION TRANSPORTATION TO EL SALVADOR
End non-paper.
BLAU