US embassy cable - 05ANKARA3965

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003965 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015 
TAGS: MARR, MASS, PREL, PTER, TU 
SUBJECT: TURKEY REQUESTS COUNTER-IED TRAINING AND 
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT 
 
REF: A. 06/09/05 JCS/J-5 MEMCON ON TU DCHOD-VCJCS TANK 
 
        SESSION AND LUNCH 
     B. ANKARA 3954 
     C. ANKARA 3953 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Since the June 6-8 visit of the Deputy Chief 
of the Turkish General Staff (TGS DCHOD) General Ilker Basbug 
to Washington, TGS has raised on three separate occasions a 
request for USG information-sharing and technology support to 
counter the increasing number of Improvised Explosive Devices 
(IEDs) discovered in southeastern Turkey and presumably 
placed by the PKK terrorist organization.  Post considers the 
IED issue to be a real and growing threat to Turkey and, 
recognizing technology transfer limitations, urges the most 
fulsome response possible to meet Turkey's technical support 
request.  We welcome indications by the Joint Staff and HQ US 
EUCOM that an IED Task Force may be able to visit Ankara the 
second half of July in response to TGS' request.  In 
preparation for this visit Post recommends that the full 
range of US technical support options be explored.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (C)  During his June 8 meeting with VCJCS Pace, DCHOD 
Basbug underscored Turkish losses to PKK-related IEDs in 
Southeastern Turkey and requested US assistance (Ref A). 
During subsequent meetings on June 29 with COM USNAVEUR ADM 
Ulrich and on July 5 with Charge d'Affaires, DCHOD further 
pressed the issue (Refs B and C).  On July 3, TGS leadership 
and military service chiefs met with PM Erdogan for five 
hours to discuss the escalating IED attacks and other 
security issues.  Turkish press characterized this as the 
longest meeting between the military and government since a 
1997 meeting that preceded military action to oust then-PM 
Erbakan. 
 
3. (C)  Turkish government and public displeasure at the lack 
of US action to counter the PKK presence in Iraq has been a 
primary source of anti-American sentiment and a downturn in 
bilateral relations in past months.  The US has worked hard 
to reverse this with the recent series of high level visits 
to Ankara and Washington.  At every opportunity the US 
reaffirms its commitment to the fight against all terrorist 
groups, including the PKK.  While we have taken some steps to 
back up these words with action - listing the PKK as a 
terrorist organization and getting the EU to do the same, 
setting up an intel-sharing cell in Ankara and issuing the 
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO) to detain PKK leadership 
Multi-National Force/Iraq comes across in the course of 
normal operations, nothing has resulted in the capture of PKK 
leadership.  There are indications that the PKK presence near 
the border with Turkey is growing and infiltrations across 
the border continue. 
 
4. (C) Comment: US assistance to counter IED attacks may not 
only help reduce the loss of life but could help prevent a 
potentially destabilizing situation from spiraling out of 
control.  The Turks would welcome information on the lessons 
we have learned in Afghanistan and Iraq but they will need 
appropriate tools to counter the IED threat.  The provision 
of US technical countermeasures would provide concrete 
evidence of the US commitment to the fight against all 
terrorism wherever it is found.  If we cannot provide either 
US or foreign equipment, we should extend every effort to 
link Turkey with appropriate equipment sources.  End Comment. 
 
MCELDOWNEY