US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT1364

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001364 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/IR, EUR/NB, PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2014 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, NO, IZ, KU, UNSC 
SUBJECT: (C) IRAQ:  NORWEGIAN COMMANDER WANTS TO STAY, 
WOULD NEED UNSCR BY EARLY MAY 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA JOHN MORAN; REASON 1.4 (A, B, D). 
 
1.  (U) A/DCM AND OMC-K VICE CHIEF MET APRIL 25 WITH A 
VISITING NORWEGIAN DELEGATION COMPRISING THE DCM FROM THE 
NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ABU DHABI, PER VATNE, THE COMMANDER OF 
THE NORWEGIAN CONTINGENT IN IRAQ, COLONEL THOR MOEN, 
CHRISTIAN HANEBORG OF THE EMBASSY, AND MAJOR JENS HYNDOY, 
MOEN'S CHIEF OF STAFF.  THE MEETING, HELD AT THE NORWEGIANS' 
REQUEST, WAS BILLED AS A ROUTINE INTRODUCTORY CALL GIVEN THAT 
THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN ABU DHABI COVERS SEVERAL COUNTRIES 
INCLUDING KUWAIT AND IRAQ. 
 
2.  (C) TO OUR SURPRISE, MUCH OF THE MEETING CONSISTED OF 
MOEN (PROTECT THROUGHOUT) EXPRESSING DISAGREEMENT WITH HIS 
GOVERNMENT'S POLICY:  HE SAID HIS RECOMMENDATION THAT THE 
NORWEGIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE 
END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR HAD BEEN OVERRULED, AND HIS 
CONTINGENT WAS TO CEASE OPERATIONS ON JUNE 30.  HE THOUGHT 
THERE WAS STILL A CHANCE THIS DECISION COULD BE REVERSED IF 
THERE WERE A NEW UNSC RESOLUTION -- MUCH STRONGER THAN THE 
EXISTING ONES -- ENDORSING THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN IRAQ AND 
CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL MILITARY PARTICIPATION.  BUT, HE 
STRESSED, THE RESOLUTION WOULD NEED TO COME VERY SOON:  THE 
TROOPS THAT WOULD BE ROTATING IN WOULD NEED TWO MONTHS OF 
TRAINING TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF THIS 
ASSIGNMENT. 
 
3.  (C) MOEN EMPHASIZED HIS INTENT THAT HIS UNIT REMAIN FULLY 
OPERATIONAL UNTIL JUNE 30; IT WOULD HAVE UNTIL JULY 15 TO 
DEMOBILIZE AND GO HOME.  NOT WANTING TO LEAVE ANY TASK 
INCOMPLETE, THE UNIT WOULD CEASE TO TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS AS 
OF JUNE 15. 
 
4.  (C) COMMENT:  WE PRESUME THIS IS NOT NEWS TO THE READERS 
MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED, BUT PASS IT ON FOR WHAT IT MAY BE 
WORTH.  NO OTHER MEMBER OF THE NORWEGIAN DELEGATION DEMURRED. 
 
5.  (U) BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
MORAN