06-F-0803 Response to international Commission on Missing persons June-16-2003

PDASD SO/LIC rlfl. je)S JUN I 6 20~'-l FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY ACTION MEMO &f'-5}6} 1#-03/007170 FOR: UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY FROM: Joseph Collins, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defens SUBJECT: Response to International Commission on Missi g Persons (ICMP) • James Kimsey, Chairman ofICMP, wrote the SECDEF and DEPSECDEF to request their OFFICIAL support in sending a team to Iraq to search for and identify human remains (Tab B). • SECSTATE received the same letter and noted that "ICMP does great work." (Tab B) • The SECDEF forwarded the letter to General Franks (with Ambassador Bremer cc'd) suggesting that he "consider taking advantage of this offer." (Tab C) • ICMP plans to travel to Iraq with Queen Noor of Jordan (who is a Commissioner for ICMP). • Ambassador Bremer has already met with ICMP and will meet with them again while they are in Iraq. ICMP will also meet with General McKiernan. • This letter has been passed informally to USAID. Their Abuse Prevention and · Response Unit has requested that we "quietly" forward them any unsolicited offers of assistance regarding war crimes/mass graves. RECOMMENDATION: Sign letter replying to James Kimsey at Tab A. COORDINATION: Tab D Attachment As stated Prepared by:._ l(b - )(5 _ > ___ -.1[ Stability Operations,l1- (b_ Jc5 _ > ___ _, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY PRINCIPAL DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 2100 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, D .C. 20301 -2100 POLICY Mr. James V. Kimsey Chairman, International Commission on Missing Persons 1700 Pennsylvania A venue, NW Suite 900 Washington, DC 20006 (b)(S) Sincerely, Ryan Henry cc: Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues Secretary of the Army 05121.103 12:03 FAX 2027850404 .JAMES V, KlMSEY r;i 003 . ' SECDEF HAS SEEN MAY 2 9 2003 The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld Secretaty of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 Dear Mr . .Secretary: In light of recent events in Iraq. I would like to contribute the services&. technology of the: !nteIW1tional Commission on Missing Persons (ICMJI) to support the Departmcnt of Uetens.c tn dealing with the mass graves fbund l;ll.ltl tl:u:: .fb.a1i.ili~ vf t11c Yi-ctlroo of f'oreed disappearance under the regime of Saddam Hussein. l assUtned Chairm>nship of the ICMP at the request of Secretary of State Colin Powell more than two years ago. As you may know, the !CMP was established in 1996 to address the issue of the missing in the regions of the former Yugoslavia. The successes of our projects in Bosnia~Her:z.egovina demonstrate the magnitude of the contribution we mighl make in Iraq. I would like to take a team from the lCMl' with our equipment to Iraq to search for and identify human remains. lam asking for your support in this endeavor. Your support would put the lCMP in a position to seek additional funds to complete its work in Bosnia· Herzegovina and the possible extension ofi1s operations into Iraq. Ln 'light cifthe criticism I.hat has been \cvelcd toward post~conflict activities in lrnq, it seems obvious that there could be some inunedjate bt:nefit in taking advantage of the proven capacity ofthe ICMP. I will be traveling to BQsnia-Herzegovina and then hopefully into Iraq in mid~June to further assess ICMP's potential involvement in the identification of the missing there. I need your assistance to UU\ke this happen. Peter Kirsch, my Chief of Staff, will be in touch with your office imm«liately. ~ ... ,~ J:/;,f, ~Kimscy,Chairman r- ~:a.~~~al Conurussion on Missing Persons PHONE: 202/785..0.t:!OO ' rACSIMIL£ zo217ee-040.a $1:~ •\ <;,/~1 O~'f; -~la; 29, 2683 1.48 P1'1 CC: Gen. Myen ·-~~~ FROM: Donald Rumsfeli!,:::::tl SUBJECT: Missing Persons Attached is a copy of a letter I received. My understanding is that these folks have some very good technology and can be helpful. You have the responsibility for this activity. Please consider taking advantage of this offer. Regards. Attach. 5/19/03 Kimsey Jtr to SecDef OHR:db 0~2911.1°21 ........................................................................ , Please respond by __ h;../-~..i./_o.:..3 ___ _ ORHA (forward) ORHA (rear) COORDINATION COL~rb-)(6-l ___ __. copy provided 6 June 03 copy provided 6 June 03