US embassy cable - 02ANKARA8638

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 008638 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR NEA/NGA, NEA/EX, EUR/SE, CA/PPT, DS/ITA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, OTRA, ASEC, AFIN, CPAS, AMGT, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: NORTHERN IRAQ:  REQUEST FOR DEPARTMENT TO GRANT 
AUTHORIZATION FOR ONW POLAD TO ACCOMPANY CODEL 
 
REF: STATE 241093 
 
 
(U) Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Deutsch. 
Reasons 1.5 
a-d. 
 
 
1. (U) This is an action request for NEA/NGA, NEA/EX and 
EUR/SE.  See paras 3-5. 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (S/NOFORN) Embassy understands that Chairman of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Senator Biden (D-DE), 
Senator Hagel (R-NE), three SFRC professional staff members 
and two military escorts (Codel Biden) desire to travel to 
Turkey and to Salahuddin in northern Iraq December 4-6 
(reftel).  The Codel wishes to travel to Turkey via military 
aircraft and then travel over land into northern Iraq via 
Turkey -- all of which require GOT approval.  The Embassy 
alerted the MFA to the proposed visit during a November 25 
meeting and requested GOT approval.  We also alerted the MFA 
that the USG believes that Operation Northern Watch (ONW) 
POLAD Jonathan Cohen should accompany the Codel during its 
visit to northern Iraq.  The MFA responded positively to the 
Codel's request to enter/exit northern Iraq from Turkey, but 
said that, due to the Ramadan holiday, appropriate Turkish 
government officials would not be available to meet with the 
Codel December 6 in Ankara upon their return from northern 
Iraq.  Embassy will provide a more complete report of 
Burcuoglu's response to the Codel's request to travel to 
northern Iraq via Turkey septel. 
 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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3. (S/NOFORN) For NEA/NGA and EUR/SE:  Embassy requests that 
the Department authorize ONW POLAD to accompany the Codel on 
the visit.  As the USG's officer in the field, the ONW POLAD 
has a firm grasp and understanding of not only the terrain 
and the personalities in northern Iraq, but also the Turkish 
position on northern Iraq, and therefore is well placed to 
support the Senators' visit. 
 
 
4. (S/NOFORN) For NEA/EX: We understand that NEA will provide 
funding for ONW POLAD costs on such trips to northern Iraq. 
We currently estimate trip costs for ONW POLAD will total 
between USD 850 and USD 1000, including USD 650 in driver and 
vehicle costs for Consulate Adana.  This estimate does not 
include danger pay or any per diem costs inside northern 
Iraq. (Note:  most, if not all meal, lodging and transport 
expenses inside the north will be paid by hosts.  end note.) 
Please provide fiscal data via classified cable slugged 
Ankara for PMA/Cohen. 
 
 
5. (C) For CA/PPT: We understand no passport validations are 
necessary for this type of official USG trip.  If this is 
incorrect, please advise. 
 
 
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NOTIFYING THE TURKS 
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6. (S/NOFORN) During a November 25 meeting with MFA DG for 
Middle Eastern Affairs Burcuoglu on another issue, DCM said 
that Codel Biden wanted to travel to northern Iraq December 
4-5 and requested GOT approval for the visit.  DCM also 
alerted Burcuoglu that the USG believed it was necessary for 
ONW POLAD to accompany the Codel.  Burcuoglu said that he 
would first brief FM Yakis (he later said U/S Ziyal) and then 
the MFA would have to brief the new government (i.e. the 
Prime Minister), which would make the final decision. 
 
 
7. (S/NOFORN)  Burcuoglu telephoned DCM November 26 to say 
the GOT had approved the Codel's proposal to enter and exit 
northern Iraq via Turkey.  However, Burcuoglu said that due 
to the Ramadan holiday (December 4 at 1300 through December 
7), appropriate GOT officials would not be available for 
meetings with the Codel on December 6, as the Codel desires. 
(A more complete readout of Burcuoglu's response to the 
Codel's request will be provided septel.) 
 
 
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PROPOSED SCHEDULE 
----------------- 
 
 
8. (S/NOFORN) Below is the Codel's proposed schedule per 
reftel: 
 
 
December 3 
- depart Andrews AFB in the evening 
 
 
December 4 
--Arrive at an air base close to the Iraqi border. (Note:  We 
understand the Codel is looking using Mardin in south eastern 
Turkey.  Mardin is a civilian airport with limited operating 
hours and capabilities.  We recommend the Codel use 
Diyarbakir air base.  It can handle military and civilian 
aircraft, and is not that much further from the Iraqi border 
than Mardin.  end note.) 
--Proceed to northern Iraq and travel to Salahuddin by land. 
--Meeting with PUK leader Talabani, KDP leader Barzani (TBD) 
--Overnight in Salahuddin 
 
 
December 5 
 
 
--Meeting with women's groups; 
--Meeting with NGOs (re: potential humanitarian crisis in the 
event of an operation in Iraq); 
--Speak to students at University of Irbil; 
--Visit refugee camp housing; 
--Interview with Brent Sadler (CNN); 
--possible visit to site of chemical weapons attack. 
--Depart for Turkish border (late afternoon).  Cross border 
into Turkey, proceed to military base and fly to Ankara via 
military aircraft. 
--Overnight in Ankara. 
 
 
December 6 
 
 
--meeting with GOT officials. 
--Depart Ankara aboard military aircraft for Incirlik. 
Receive ONW brief.  Depart Incirlik en route Qatar 
 
 
9. (S/NOFORN) We understand from our initial discussions with 
one of the DOD military escorts that the Codel is making its 
own transportation and security arrangements for all travel 
within northern Iraq.  We therefore assume that Kurdish 
organizations in northern Iraq are aware of the visit and 
planning accordingly.  As far as requests from the Embassy, 
we expect the Codel to request the following assistance: (1) 
securing GOT approval to enter/exit northern Iraq via Turkey; 
(2) securing GOT approval for right to land US military 
aircraft at a Turkish base; (3) US Embassy/Consulate 
assistance with ground transportation from the air base to 
the Iraqi border on December 4/from the Iraqi border to the 
air base on December 5; (4) hotel accommodations in Ankara 
for the evening of December 5; and (5) appointments with GOT 
officials on December 6.  On this last point, the Codel has 
requested appointments with AK Party Chairman Erdogan or 
Prime Minister Gul, and TGS CHOD Gen Ozkok.  For the purpose 
of balance and optics, we recommend that the Codel request 
meetings with PM Gul, FM Yakis and TGS CHOD Ozkok. 
 
 
10. (S/NOFORN) If the Codel sticks with the proposed schedule 
outlined in para 8 above, ONW POLAD would travel via 
commercial air December 4 to Diyarbakir and meet the Codel 
upon its arrival.  Codel and ONW POLAD would then drive in a 
lightly armored USG vehicle (provided by Consulate Adana) 
from that location to the Habur Gate border crossing that 
same day.  After arriving at Habur, they would enter northern 
Iraq.  After they complete their activities in northern Iraq, 
the Codel would return to the Habur Gate border crossing and 
reenter Turkey in the afternoon on December 5.  They would 
then return to Diyarbakir air base via lightly armored USG 
vehicle (supplied by Consulate Adana) and fly back to Ankara 
in the evening of December 5. 
 
 
11. (S/NOFORN) We are unaware of what arrangements the Codel 
and the Iraqi Kurdish groups have made for the Codel's 
transportation within in northern Iraq.  That said, we 
imagine the transportation and security will be similar to 
that which is provided to ONW POLAD when he travels to 
northern Iraq.  Specifically, we expect the Codel would 
travel in northern Iraq via KDP and PUK (if the Codel enters 
any PUK-controlled areas) Toyota Land Cruisers, and usually 
be accompanied by a mid-level public affairs official from 
one of those factions.  The KDP and PUK, respectively, would 
typically provide 10-20 of their best-trained peshmerga 
(fighters) as escorts.  One or two peshmerga usually travel 
in USG passengers' vehicle, and all of them carry automatic 
weapons (usually Kalashnikovs).  KDP and PUK forces also take 
steps to secure all roads through standard and, when 
necessary, additional checkpoints.  KDP and PUK escorts would 
be in regular communication with their respective 
headquarters via radio and other means.  The Codel would 
utilize local KDP, PUK and other translators as necessary. 
 
 
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SECURITY 
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12. (S/NOFORN) While northern Iraq is never completely safe 
for USG travel, we believe that in the current situation the 
ONW POLAD's presence would not increase the risk of this 
trip.  Post defers to a USG threat assessment, but KDP and 
PUK authorities have in the past provided sufficient security 
guarantees.  Post also notes that the GOT will be well aware 
of the Codel's activities and location while in northern Iraq 
and could provide both security and extraction assistance if 
necessary.  ONW POLAD will contact Embassy Ankara daily via 
non-secure iridium phone, and Embassy Ankara personnel would 
ensure that all relevant USG agencies (including CTF/ONW, 
ODC, EUCOM and Washington) are kept informed.  Based on 
information from other channels, we recommend that the Codel 
not meet with Islamist representatives during this trip. 
 
 
13. (S/NOFORN) Embassy neither expects nor requests resources 
from DoD or other USG agencies for extraction contingencies 
for the ONW POLAD.  Post is coordinating with CTF/ONW, ODC, 
EUCOM and State/NEA on security and safety questions for ONW 
POLAD.  In case of emergency, POLAD would depart Iraq with 
the assistance of the Iraqi Kurds and, if necessary, the GOT. 
PEARSON