VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHRA #0482 2711443
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281443Z SEP 09 (CCY ADB9E193 MSI1753-632)
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6057
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
INFO RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0032
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEAHQA/OSAF WASHDC
RUEADWD/DA WASHDC
RUVALAN/AFSAC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH
RUENAAA/NAVY IPO WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDRUSASAC FT BELVOIR VA
RHMCSUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFIUU/COMMARCORSYSCOM QUANTICO VA
UNCLAS RIGA 000482
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT - PARAGRAPH 2)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE, EUR/NB
DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA JOHANNA KNOCH AND SCOTT KWAK
JCS J5 FOR COL MIETUS;
SECDEF FOR LT COL FENTON
USDP:DSCA/ERASA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MCAP PREL LG
SUBJECT: FY10 1206 FUNDS REQUEST FOR LATVIAN COMMUNICATIONS
CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
REF: SECSTATE 92407
1. Post has submitted a request for 1.5 million USD in 1206
funding to materially increase the Latvian Operational
Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT), Joint Terminal Attack
Controller (JTAC) and Special Operations Forces (SOF)
multiband and high frequency communications capabilities for
current and future NATO ISAF and other operations in key
theaters worldwide. The Country Team has reviewed the request
and concurs with the document submitted to EUCOM for approval.
2. This request has Chief of Mission approval. There is a
critical need for OMLT and SOF with JTAC teams in ISAF.
Latvia has already deployed two OMLTs to ISAF in partnership
with the Michigan National Guard and has scheduled a third
deployment in spring 2010. In using 1206 funds to support
this program, the USG will significantly enhance this NATO
partner,s ability to effectively operate in stability
operations abroad and provide improved regional defense
capabilities. Post is not aware of any credible evidence
of gross violations of human rights by the units who are
proposed to receive assistance.
3. Latvia is facing another round of cuts in its 2010
defense budget as a consequence of a severe
economic downturn. This additional funding will allow Latvia
to continue to deploy much needed specialized units such as
OMLTs, JTAC teams and special operations forces to
Afghanistan with U.S.-interoperable communications packages
without having to rely heavily on U.S. support.
Additionally, this funding will fill a critical Latvian
communications program shortage by providing sufficient high
frequency and multiband radios to simultaneously support
these deployments and effectively train the units for
follow-on deployments. Without this funding, it is unlikely
that this shortage will be filled in the near future by any
other mechanism.
4. ODC Latvia POC for this project is LTC Thomas M. Butler at
371-6732-6299, butlertm@state.sgov.gov or
tbutler@san.osd.mil.
GARBER