Telegram 33 fco london to rome phase iv military contributions lobbying instructions

RESTRICTED 0O ATHEN BUCHA CAIRO CANBE OO COPEN DUBLI HELSI ISLAM KULUM LISBO MADRI OO NEDEL OSLOO OTTAW PRAGU ROMEE STOCK 0O VIENN FM FCOLN TO ROMEE 101015Z APR GRS 907 RESTRICTED FM FCO TO IMMEDIATE ROME TELNO 33 OF 101015Z APRIL 03 AND TO IMMEDIATE ATHENS, BERNE, BUDAPEST, BUCHAREST, COPENHAGEN AND TO IMMEDIATE DUBLIN, HELSINKI, LISBON, MADRID, OSLO, OTTAWA AND TO IMMEDIATE PRAGUE, STOCKHOLM, VIENNA, WARSAW, KUALA LUMPUR AND TO IMMEDIATE JAKARTA, CANBERRA, MUSCAT, BAHRAIN, DOHA AND TO IMMEDIATE ABU DHABI, VILNIUS, LJUBLJANA, TALLIN, SOFIA AND TO IMMEDIATE BRATISLAVA, ISLAMABAD, DHAKA, MONTEVIDEO AND TO IMMEDIATE BUENOS AIRES, SANTIAGO, RABAT, CAIRO, THE HAGUE AND TO IMMEDIATE RIGA, NEW DELHI INFO IMMEDIATE AUCKLAND, EU POSTS, NATO POSTS, CABINET OFFICE INFO IMMEDIATE MODUK, PJHQUK, UKMIS NEW YORK, UKMIS GENEVA, INFO IMMEDIATE DAMASCUS, , SKOPJE, TIRANA, TEHRAN, KUWAIT INFO IMMEDIATE AMMAN, RIYADH SIC SUBJECT: PHASE IV MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS: LOBBYING INSTRUCTIONS • SUMMARY 1. Maintaining security and stability a key priority for Phase IV. Military contributions from other countries sought to help support this in the UK sector. Instructions to discuss with host governments. Detailed requirements being sent separately to DAs. Tight deadline. DETAIL 2. Maintaining security and stability in Iraq will remain a key task for coalition forces during Phase IV, allowing for the humanitarian reconstruction of the country post-conflict, until a new Iragi administration is able to take control. The precise scope of the UK's role in Phase IV is yet to be fully determined, but it seems likely that we will retain the current Area of Operation in the three provinces centred on Basra in Southern Iraq. Our aim is to encourage ПОЛ ЛОССЕЛ argument for potential contributors than offsetting the effects of a UK drawdown. 4. We intend to continue to provide a discrete self supporting military capability in the UK area of operation, allowing maximum flexibility to cope with whatever role we assume in Phase IV. From about September, this requirement in the UK area of operation is likely to be a 2 star divisional headquarters with three supporting brigades (these requirements may change as the situation develops). We will be able to provide the headquarters and one of the three brigades, and we would like to make up the remaining two brigades through contributions from other nations. That is the purpose of this approach to host governments. We have agreed with the US that we will make bilateral approaches to a range of countries on the requirements for our Area of Operation: the US are making similar approaches for their areas of responsibility. 5. MOD are sending to Defence Attaches specific information on the contributions we are seeking. Clearly the more substantial and self-sustaining the offer, the better. But smaller contributions and associated enablers such as logistics, medical and engineer commitments could also be very useful. Whether or not we can absorb all offers will depend on individual circumstances and the shape of the overall force. Some potential contributions could also have a role on a later time frame than September. But the immediate objective is to encourage early offers from as wide a selection of potential contributors as possible. Any overlaps can be sorted out in due course. 6. Unless you judge this would be seriously counterproductive (in which case please report why), would action addresses please now swiftly approach your host government about the possibility of a military contribution to Phase IV, drawing on the above and, in liaison with your DA, highlighting specific requirements as set out in MOD's parallel telegram to DAs. Some of you have already discussed specifics with host governments - please pursue these further. We would be grateful if in reporting responses you could advise whether early follow up by senior military figures would be useful. As some addressees are aware, CDS-designate General, Sir Michael Walker, may be able to make early visits to pursue any particularly firm or encouraging reactions. We would be grateful for responses by COP 11 April if feasible, or as soon as possible thereafter. 7. We are not/not approaching the regional neighbours, almost all of whom (Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait) have complicating historical baggage. Involving Iran, Syria and Turkey would be particularly problematic, and it would be hard to invite some without inviting others (we followed the same principle of not inviting the neighbours DECI ASSIFIED STRAW MAMIAN 5395 NNNN DECLASSIFIED