US embassy cable - 04ANKARA3495

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 003495 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, TU, AF 
SUBJECT: REQUEST TO USE INCIRLIK AS CARGO HUB IN SUPPORT OF 
OEF/OIF OPERATIONS:  TGS DCHOD BASBUG SAYS IT APPEARS 
"WORKABLE" 
 
Classified By: (U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman.  Reasons: 
 1.5 (B and D). 
 
1. (S) During discussions with PM A/S Bloomfield's delegation 
on Global Force Posture review June 17 (septel), Turkish 
General Staff (TGS) DCHOD GEN Basbug confirmed that he had 
received a letter from EUCOM's GEN Wald (dated June 16) 
earlier that day requesting the use of Incirlik Air Base 
(IAB) as a cargo hub in support of OEF/OIF operations (see 
para five for the complete text of the letter, which also 
requests authorization to continue stationing aerial 
refueling tankers at IAB in support of OEF/OIF operations.) 
Basbug said that while he only had a chance to read the 
letter quickly before the meeting, it appeared "workable" and 
offered that TGS "would begin working on it."  While he did 
not see any major problems, there were some issues "such as 
the request for blanket clearances" that would need to be 
discussed. 
 
2. (S) Looking at MFA DDG for the Americas Ilicak (who was at 
the meeting), Basbug wondered if EUCOM's request to establish 
a cargo hub could be considered under the terms of the June 
2003 decree authorizing the use of Turkish ports and bases to 
support humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq 
consistent with UNSCR 1483.  Ilicak (who may not have seen 
the letter) did not respond directly, saying only that the 
GOT was working on extending the June 2003 decree and that 
the matter was with the Prime Ministry.  (After the 
conclusion of A/S Bloomfield's meetings at the MFA, Ilicak's 
deputy, Cihad Erginay, told deputy pol-mil counselor that the 
Council of Ministers were not planning on meeting this 
weekend to discuss extending the decree, as some within the 
Turkish military had suggested.  Erginay said there was "no 
need for the COM to convene for such a matter" and assured 
deputy pol-mil counselor that the decree would be extended.) 
 
3. (S) During the afternoon meeting at the MFA on the GFP, 
Ilicak noted that the concept of operations outlined in the 
letter envisaged using IAB as a cargo hub for cargo to/from 
the "CENTCOM AOR."  She noted that the June 2003 COM decree 
allowed for the use of Turkish facilities in support of 
efforts "in Iraq," and said Turkish "legal authorities" would 
need to examine the issue of allowing cargo to go "anywhere" 
in the CENTCOM AOR. 
 
4. (S) Comment: We have confirmed with EUCOM J4 that the 
intent of the EUCOM request is to use Incirlik only/only for 
cargo that supports either OEF or OIF (whether the final 
destination is Iraq or another country that needs the cargo) 
and not non-OEF/OIF cargo being sent to other CENTCOM 
destinations.  We will provide this clarification to GOT 
officials as one means of addressing the GOT "legal" concerns 
identified in paragraph 3.  End comment. 
 
5. (S) Begin text of EUCOM letter: 
 
16 June 2004 
 
 
General Ilker Basbug 
Deputy Chief of General Staff 
Ankara, Turkey 
 
Dear General Basbug, 
 
I want to once again express my appreciation for Turkey,s 
support in allowing the US military to use Incirlik Air Base 
to rotate US military personnel out of Iraq and to provide 
aerial refueling operations in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). 
 
EUCOM requests Turkey,s permission to continue the 
deployment of up to 10 air refueling tankers to Incirlik Air 
Base beyond the current 23 June 2004 limit in order to allow 
us to continue to provide a robust aerial refueling capacity 
in support of OIF and OEF operations.  We ask that the 
tankers and associated temporary duty personnel be permitted 
to operate under the existing arrangements that we have in 
place for the tankers currently deployed to Incirlik Air Base. 
 
Additionally, EUCOM requests authorization to use Incirlik 
Air Base as a multi-directional cargo hub to enhance the 
utilization of strategic air assets in the distribution of 
air cargo originating from the United States and Europe to 
support OIF and OEF operations. 
 
The proposed concept of operations is based upon the success 
of the recently completed operations at Incirlik Air Base 
regarding the rotation for US troops out of Iraq.  The 
multi-directional hub would operate as a cargo trans-shipment 
hub for general military cargo originating in the United 
States and/or US military installations in Europe destined 
for the CENTCOM AOR and facilitate the return of cargo from 
the CENTCOM AOR to US military installations in the US or in 
Europe.  Inbound cargo would be carried by military aircraft 
or contract cargo aircraft to Incirlik Air Base and 
trans-shipped to military aircraft deployed there for onward 
movement to the CENTCOM AOR.  Outbound cargo from the CENTCOM 
AOR would be transported by military aircraft to Incirlik Air 
Base and trans-shipped to military or contract cargo aircraft 
for return to the US or Europe. 
 
This hub operation would process general military cargo to 
include lethal cargo (i.e. weapons).  Ammunition would not be 
processed by the hub; however, the crew and pilots would 
carry ammunition that accompanies their own personal weapons. 
 Although there may occasionally be small numbers of 
transiting personnel onboard, troop rotations to and from 
Iraq would not be part of this operation at Incirlik Air 
Base.  The throughput of the hub operation is expected to be 
up to 6 wide-body contract cargo aircraft during a 24-hr 
period, with up to 6 C-17 aircraft temporarily located at 
Incirlik flying sorties to and from the CENTCOM AOR.  We 
would request authorization to deploy approximately 130 
additional temporary duty personnel to support aircraft 
loading, airfield operations, fuels and maintenance 
operations.  The operations and personnel would be mutually 
agreed to be within the scope of the Article V of the DECA. 
 
In the event the government of Turkey responds positively to 
these requests, we respectfully request the following to 
enable operations to run efficiently: 
 
--A streamlined process for customs and visa requirements. 
Specifically, due to limited automation capabilities in Iraq, 
we propose using the aircraft manifest and/or passenger 
manifest as the passport control management document for 
aircrew and transiting personnel.  Accompanying cargo would 
be imported/exported using &manifest only8 procedures. 
 
--Commencing June 30, 2004, combine blanket diplomatic 
clearances for all contract and non-combat military flights 
in to and out of Incirlik Air Base in support of OIF and OEF 
operations (including tankers) into a single blanket 
clearance number. 
 
--All cargo aboard the transiting aircraft would essentially 
be considered bonded cargo, and would therefore be exempt 
from taxes, surtaxes, duties, fees, and charges. 
 
--All cargo aircraft flying in support of this 
multi-directional cargo hub, including aircraft contracted by 
the US government, would be considered military or state 
aircraft, and would be exempt from taxes, surtaxes, dutes, 
fees, and charges. 
 
--Deploy up to 6 military airlift aircraft (C-17) and 
approximately 130 related temporary duty support personnel to 
Incirlik Air Base to support intra-theater cargo movements. 
 
Again, I want to thank you for your support for the aerial 
refueling and troop rotations, and I would appreciate your 
favorable consideration of these additional requests that 
would enhance our ability to support Operations Enduring 
Freedom and Iraq Freedom. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
/S/ 
 
CHARLES F. WALD 
General, USAF 
 
End text. 
EDELMAN