https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09USNATO511_a.html
CORRECTED COPY: U.S. TEAM CONSULTS WITH ISAF PARTNERS ON AFGHANISTAN
2009 November 10, 16:37 (Tuesday)
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(S/REL ISAF) This cable is a corrected copy including
additional comments by the Deputy Assistant to the President
and the Vice President's National Security Advisor, Tony
Blinken.
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(S/REL ISAF) SUMMARY: On November 5, a senior level USG
interagency team consulted with NATO Allies and non-NATO ISAF
troop contributing countries on the way ahead in Afghanistan,
including how to respond to GEN McChrystal's assessment and
resource request. The U.S. team stressed that the President
remained committed to the international effort in
Afghanistan, informing ISAF members that all options being
considered by the President include an increase in our
military and civilian investment. They said that it was the
size and nature of the increase that was still under
discussion, adding that an announcement of a decision would
be made after President Obama's upcoming trip to Asia.
Several key themes emerged from the discussion with Allies
and non-NATO ISAF troop contributors, including:
– there was general support for GEN McChrystal's assessment
and its call for a population-centric counter-insurgency
approach;
– no Allies or partners, with the possible exception of the
Dutch, were considering doing less and a number were
considering how they might do more;
– while ISAF members generally agreed on the need to grow
the Afghan National Security Forces, they shared U.S.
questions about how large it should grow, whether it would be
sustainable, and who would pay for it;
– on civilian coordination, Allies and partners recognized
the need for improved civilian coordination and stressed the
importance of maintaining and strengthening the UN's role; and
– ISAF members wanted a better sense of international
expectations of Afghan President Karzai in his second term.
NATO Secretary General Rasmussen concluded the meeting by
strongly arguing that, if the U.S. intended to step forward
with additional contributions to the ISAF mission, other
Allies and partners also needed to increase their
contributions, ideally in the same time-frame as Washington.
END SUMMARY
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