INFO LOG-00 EEB-00 AF-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
DNI-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 PDI-00 DS-00 EAP-00
FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VCI-00 DIAS-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 L-00 ARMY-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NRRC-00
NSAE-00 ISN-00 OIC-00 NIMA-00 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00
P-00 SCT-00 ISNE-00 FMPC-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00
SS-00 TRSE-00 NCTC-00 SCRS-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-00 G-00 SCA-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SRAP-00 SWCI-00
PESU-00 /000W
P 241728Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4075
INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T LONDON 002639
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2019
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR PGOV MCAP UK
SUBJECT: (S/NF) AFGHANISTAN: UK WILL SAY NO TO A REQUEST
FOR MORE TROOPS BEYOND THE 1,200 ALREADY PROMISED
REF: A. STATE 120807 B. LONDON 2346 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for Reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (S/NF) Summary. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Cabinet Office officers told the Political Minister
Counselor November 24 that the total number of UK troops in Afghanistan will soon total 9,500, as the UK will be
plussing up its permanently deployed force by 1,200; this number consists of the 700 troops originally sent by the UK as
an "uplift" for the electoral period who are now deployed on a "permanent" basis plus the deployment soon of 500 more
troops. If asked by the U.S. to send more troops, the UK would be obliged to say "no," as HMG lacks the logistics
capability and equipment to support the deployment of more troops, the interlocutors stressed. The FCO, Ministry of
Defence (MOD), and Downing Street are all in agreement on this point, they stated. The UK will continue to urge allies
to follow the UK's example and to increase their contributions to Afghanistan, they said. Prime Minister Brown's Foreign
Policy Advisor Simon McDonald and senior MOD officials recently returned from a trip to six European capitals that aimed
to drum up support from other allies. HMG appreciates U.S. support for the January 28 Afghanistan Conference in London
and plans to publicly announce the conference soon, one interlocutor stated. HMG's goal is to be completely in synch
with the U.S. when the President announces the roll out of our strategy in Afghanistan and is eager to avoid any public
perception of a "disconnect" between U.S. and UK policy. End Summary. More British Troops?
"The Cupboard is Bare." --------------------------------------------- -
2. (S/NF) The Political Minister Counselor discussed additional contributions for Afghanistan with Philip Barton,
Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the Cabinet Office's Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, November 24 (Ref A).
Barton affirmed HMG's strong commitment to the success of the allied mission in Afghanistan. He confirmed that the
number of UK troops in Afghanistan will soon total 9,500. Barton stated that the 700 troops originally sent by the UK as
an "uplift" for the electoral period are now deployed on a "permanent" basis. The deployment of 500 more troops should
be confirmed within a few days, possibly at about the same time President Obama announces his decision regarding
Afghanistan, Barton stated.
3. (S/NF) Barton underscored that these decisions, already announced by Prime Minister Brown in October (Ref B), will
increase the UK's troop numbers by 1,200: the 700 retained beyond the elections and the new 500. However, "we don't have
the capability in terms of logistics or equipment" to support the deployment of additional troops. "The cupboard is
bare," Barton emphasized. He stressed that it would not be helpful for the U.S. to ask the UK to send more troops, as
doing so would put HMG "in the very difficult place" of having to say "no." He noted that if the UK said "no" to a
request for additional troops, other allies could hide behind that refusal in justifying their decisions not to send
more troops. A request from the U.S. for more British troops would also be unhelpful to HMG in terms of domestic
political considerations, Barton said.
Cross Whitehall Concurrence ---------------------------
4. (S/NF) Barton acknowledged that HMG has in the past had internal disagreements about whether or not more British
troops should deploy to Afghanistan. "Unlike in the past, we're all at one" that the UK cannot deploy more troops. The
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and 10 Downing Street concur on the conclusion that HMG cannot
deploy more troops, Barton stated. "I've just come from a meeting with the CHOD (Chief of Defense Staff, Air Chief
Marshal Jock Stirrup) and we're lock square," Barton said.
5. (S/NF) HMG will continue its efforts to convince other allies to follow the UK's lead and increase their
contributions in Afghanistan, Barton said. He noted that Prime Minister Brown's Foreign Policy Advisor Simon McDonald
and senior MOD officials recently returned from a trip to six European capitals in which they attempted to drum up
promises for increased contributions from other allies. The UK will deliver the same message in the NAC and "we're keen
to work with you to get what we can from the others," Barton said. Barton confirmed that he will accompany McDonald to
meetings in Washington this week.
6. (S/NF) In a separate meeting with the Political Minister Counselor, Karen Pierce, Director, South Asia and
Afghanistan, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), offered the same message as Barton, namely that the UK was
unable to send more troops to Afghanistan beyond the additional 1200 already pledged but would press other allies to do
more. "When some allies do so little, to ask for more from us would be very difficult," Pierce stated. Pierce said she
would share our points about the way forward in Afghanistan and the need for additional allied contributions with
appropriate HMG interlocutors, including at the Department for International Development. Catherine Brooker, Private
Secretary to Foreign Secretary Miliband, said she would share our points with the Foreign Secretary.
Afghanistan Conference in London --------------------------------
7. (S/NF) Pierce expressed appreciation for U.S. support for the January 28 Afghanistan Conference in London. She said
that her office would coordinate HMG's organization of the conference. HMG aims to announce the conference soon, so that
it can deliver invitations.
Comment -------
8. (S/NF) HMG wants to be completely in synch with the U.S. when the President announces the roll out of our strategy in
Afghanistan. Brown's government is eager to avoid the inevitable loss of political capital that would result if the
media and Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition pounce on an apparent disconnect between U.S. and UK views on the
way forward in Afghanistan. Barton's insistence that the FCO, MOD and 10 Downing Street are in lock step is particularly
telling given disagreements earlier this year, which spilled into the media, between the MOD (which urged the deployment
of more troops) and 10 Downing Street. Another factor driving British thinking is increased irritation at some allies
who, in the UK's view, are not pulling their weight in Afghanistan. Interlocutors most frequently cite Germany and
France in this regard. End Comment. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX e
Susman