US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1302

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 001302 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE FOR FICHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2015 
TAGS: EZ, IZ, PGOV, PREL 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BAGHDAD DCM ENGAGES THE CZECHS ON IRAQ 
 
 
 1) (C) Visiting Embassy Baghdad DCM David Satterfield 
briefed Czech MFA Director for the Middle East Miloslav 
Stasek August 31 on the situation in Iraq.  Addressing the 
future of the insurgency, Satterfield focused on the need to 
separate the bulk of the Sunni population from the extreme 
Baathist elements on one end of the spectrum and the violent 
religious extremists on the other. Regarding future Czech 
contributions, Satterfield made a plea for technical 
assistance for the Iraqi ministries and also for perimeter 
security support for the NTM-I training center 
 
2) (C) Stasek said that GOCR was interested in providing 
technical expertise to the evolving Iraqi ministries, but was 
unsure whether the security situation would allow such 
assistance at this time. Statterfield suggested the GOCR 
provide a list of ministries that they would like to help. 
U.S. Embassy Baghdad could provide a detailed description of 
the security situations in each ministry. 
 
3) (C) Stasek asked if the U.S. would maintain its troops 
levels at around 
135,000 in 2006.  This was pitched in terms of the Czech's 
system of one-year 
parliamentary authorizations for deployments. Satterfield 
answered that the United States opposes a strict timeline for 
withdrawal and will assess the situation in various regions 
as more Iraqi forces come online. 
 
4) (C) Stasek discussed the mid-September visit of Iraqi 
President Jalal Talabani to Prague, following Talabani's 
planned visit to the United States.  Expressing the GOCR,s 
enthusiasm to maximize the visit,s effectiveness, 
Satterfield requested U.S. assistance in getting a list of 
Talabani,s delegation in order to facilitate Czech planning 
for the trip. Embassy Prague is now working with Embassy 
Baghdad to provide this list to the Czechs. 
CABANISS