US embassy cable - 03TEGUCIGALPA981

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000981 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR PM, WHA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC 
CENTCOM FOR J5 
JCS FOR J5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2013 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IZ, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE NEEDS INFORMATION 
FROM CENTCOM PRIOR TO REQUESTING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR 
DEPLOYMENT OF HONDURAN TROOPS TO POST-WAR IRAQ 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 881 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA 862 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Roger Pierce; 
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
(C) DCM, DATT, MILGP Commander, and PolMilOff met with 
Honduran Minister of Defense (MOD) Federico Breve on April 23 
and discussed, among other issues, the GOH's offer to 
provide Honduran troops for post-war humanitarian needs 
(demining or peacekeeping) in Iraq (refs A and B).  MOD Breve 
told EmbOffs that he had a number of operational questions 
before the GOH was ready to ask for congressional approval of 
such a deployment.  Post understands that the Honduran 
military liaison to CENTCOM, COL Carlos Andino Cobos, is 
working with CENTCOM to determine the most appropriate 
contribution of Honduran troops for post-war Iraq.  In 
addition, Post's MILGP Commander will work with CENTCOM to 
seek answers to MOD Breve's specific questions to facilitate 
the fulfillment of the Honduran troop offer. 
Pierce