Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12461 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AR AJ ASEC AE AS AORC APEC AMGT APER AA AFIN AU AG AM AEMR APECO ARF APCS ANET AMED AER AVERY ASEAN AY AINF ABLD ASIG ATRN AL AC AID AN AIT ABUD AODE AMG AGRICULTURE AMBASSADOR AORL ADM AO AGMT ASCH ACOA AFU ALOW AZ ASUP ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AADP AFFAIRS AMCHAMS AGAO ACABQ ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA ADPM AX ADCO AECL AMEX ACAO AORG AGR AROC AND ARM AQ ATFN AUC ASEX
BL BR BG BA BM BEXP BD BTIO BBSR BMGT BU BO BT BK BH BF BP BC BB BE BY BX BRUSSELS BILAT BN BIDEN BTIU BWC
CH CO CU CA CS CROS CVIS CMGT CDG CASC CE CI CD CG CR CJAN CONS CW CV CF CBW CLINTON CT CAPC CTR CKGR CB CN CY CM CIDA CONDOLEEZZA CBC COUNTERTERRORISM CPAS CWC CNARC CDC CSW CARICOM CACM CODEL COE COUNTER CL COM CICTE CIS CFED COUNTRY CJUS CBSA CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CIC CBE CHR CIA CTM CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CACS CAN CITT CARSON CDB
DJ DEFENSE DR DEA DA DTRA DO DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DK DISENGAGEMENT DOD DPRK DEPT DEAX DOE DS DE
EG ECON EPET ETRD EINV ETTC ENRG EFIS EFIN ECIN ELAB EU EAID EWWT EC ECPS EAGR EAIR ELTN EUN ES EMIN ER EIND ETRDECONWTOCS EINT EZ EFTA EI EN ET ECA ELECTIONS ENVI EUNCH ENGR EK ENERG EPA ELN EUREM EXTERNAL EFINECONCS ENIV EINVEFIN EINVETC ENVR ESA ETC EUR ENGY ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECINECONCS EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EXIM ECONOMIC ERD EEPET ERNG ETRC ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EAIG EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS EAP ECONOMY EINN EIAR EXBS ECUN EINDETRD EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENNP EFIM EAIDS
FR FJ FI FM FAO FO FDA FARC FTA FTAA FBI FAC FREEDOM FISO FOR FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR FINANCE FMLN
GG GM GTIP GERARD GV GH GCC GE GLOBAL GT GA GR GZ GANGS GY GOI GOV GAERC GAZA GTMO GL GF
HO HA HILLARY HR HK HUMAN HU HEBRON HURI HSTC HUMOR HI HYMPSK
IR IZ IS IC IWC IAEA IT IN IBRD IMF ITU IV IDP ID ICAO ITF IAHRC IMO ICRC IGAD IO IIP IF ITALY INMARSAT ISRAEL IPR IEFIN IRC IQ IRS ICJ ILO ILC ITRA INRB ICTY IACI IDA ICTR INTERPOL IA IRAQI ISRAELI INTERNAL IL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IBET INR INRA INRO IEA INTELSAT IZPREL IRAJ
JA JM JO JOHN JP JUS JOSEPH JAMES JOHNNIE
KIRF KISL KN KZ KPAL KWBG KDEM KSCA KCRM KCOR KJUS KAWC KNNP KWMN KFRD KPKO KWWMN KTFN KBIO KPAO KPRV KOMC KVPR KNAR KRVC KUNR KTEX KIRC KMPI KIPR KTIA KOLY KS KGHG KHLS KG KCIP KPAK KFLU KTIP KSTC KHIV KSUM KMDR KGIC KV KFLO KU KIDE KTDB KWNM KREC KSAF KSEO KSPR KCFE KWMNCS KAWK KRAD KE KLIG KGIT KPOA KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSCI KFSC KHDP KSEP KR KACT KMIG KDRG KDDG KRFD KWMM KPRP KSTH KO KRCM KMRS KOCI KCFC KICC KVIR KMCA KCOM KAID KOMS KNEI KRIM KBCT KWAC KBTR KTER KPLS KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KIFR KCRS KTBT KHSA KX KMFO KRGY KVRP KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KPWR KNPP KDEMAF KFIN KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KCRCM KPAI KTLA KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KOM KMOC KJUST KGCC KREL KFTFN KNSD KHUM KSEC KCMR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC
LY LI LG LE LO LU LH LABOR LTTE LA LAB LOG LT
MARR MTCRE MNUC MR MASS MOPS MO MX MCAP MP ML MEPP MZ MAPP MY MU MD MILITARY MA MDC MC MV MI MG MEETINGS MAS MASSMNUC MTCR MK MCC MT MIL MASC MEPN MPOS MAR MRCRE MARAD MIK MUCN MEDIA MERCOSUR MW MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MTRE MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS
NZ NL NSF NSG NATO NPT NS NP NO NG NORAD NU NI NT NW NH NV NE NPG NASA NATIONAL NAFTA NR NA NK NSSP NSFO NDP NATOPREL NIPP NPA NRR NSC NEW NZUS NC NAR NGO
OPDC OPRC OREP OTRA OIIP OEXC OVIP OPIC OSCE ODIP OFDP OECD OAS OSCI OFDA OPCW OMIG OPAD OIE OIC OVP OHUM OFFICIALS OCS OBSP OTR OSAC ON OCII OES
PHUM PGOV PREL PTER PBTS PINR PARM PINS PREF POL PK PE PA PBIO PM PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PROP PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PHSA PO PECON PL PNR PAK PRAM PMIL PF PROV PRL PG PHUH PSOE PGIV POLITICS PAS POGOV PAO PHUMPREL PNAT PHUMBA PEL POV PMAR PLN PSA PREO PAHO PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PALESTINIAN PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PROG PORG PTBS PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PY PTERE PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PSEPC PGOVE PINF PNG PGOC PFOR PCUL POLINT
QA
RS RU RP RFE RO RW ROOD RM RELATIONS RIGHTSPOLMIL RICE ROBERT RUPREL RSO RCMP REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RF RSP
SP SOCI SENV SMIG SY SNAR SCUL SZ SU SA SW SO SF SEVN SAARC SG SR SIPDIS SARS SNARN SL SAN SI SYR SC SHI SH SN SHUM SANC SEN SCRS SENVKGHG SYRIA SWE STEINBERG SIPRS ST SPCE SNARIZ SSA SNARCS SK SPCVIS SOFA
TS TH TRGY TPHY TU TBIO TI TC TSPA TT TW TZ TSPL TN TD THPY TL TV TX TNGD TP TAGS TFIN TIP TK TR TF TERRORISM TINT TO TRSY TURKEY TBID
US UK UP UNSC UNHRC UNMIK UNGA UN UZ UY UNDP UG UNESCO USTR UNPUOS UV UNHCR UNCHR UNAUS USOAS UNEP USUN UNDC UNO USNC UNCSD UNCND UNICEF UE USEU UNC USPS USAID UNVIE UAE UNFICYP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC
VE VZ VT VM VAT VTPREL VN VC VTIZ VTEG VI
WHO WTRO WTO WS WEU WZ WBG WITH WHA WA WIPO WMO WHTI WI WMD WTRQ WFP WWARD WB
XM XL XF XT XB XV XG XW XX XY XS XA XK XC XD XR XU XE XZ XH XI XTAG XQ
YI YM YMCS YE
ZK ZP ZI ZU ZR ZL ZO ZB ZANU ZF ZOELLICK ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 07STATE18563, DEMARCHE REQUEST ON ICELANDIC PEACEKEEPERS IN PRT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07STATE18563.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07STATE18563 | 2007-02-14 19:37 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Secretary of State

`

    VZCZCXYZ0003
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHC #8563 0451944
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    O 141937Z FEB 07
    FM SECSTATE WASHDC
    TO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB IMMEDIATE 0000
    INFO RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0000
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0000

` `

    UNCLAS STATE 018563

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV IC AF LH DA HR UK CA NATO
    SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON ICELANDIC PEACEKEEPERS IN PRT
    CHAGHCHARAN

    REF: A. A) KABUL 5855 (NOTAL)
         ¶B. B) REYKJAVIK 431 (NOTAL)

    ¶1.  (U)  Sensitive but unclassified, protect accordingly.

    SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶2.  (SBU)  Department requests that addressee embassies
    demarche host governments requesting that they urge Iceland
    to keep its mobile patrol team in PRT Chaghcharan beyond
    April 2007.   Please report host government reaction by
    February 20.  End summary and action request.

    GOAL
    ----
    ¶3.  (SBU)  The USG's ultimate goal is to convince the
    Government of Iceland (GOI) to reverse its decision to
    withdraw its mobile patrol team of civilian peacekeepers from
    PRT Chaghcharan in April 2007.  To that end, we seek to
    enlist the other countries whose forces make up PRT
    Chaghcharan (Lithuania, Croatia and Denmark) as well as
    Afghanistan, Canada and the UK in demarching Iceland.  We
    would expect the three governments contributing forces to the
    PRT to be receptive to this idea, as PRT leaders are very
    concerned about losing the unique capabilities their
    Icelandic colleagues bring to their operations.  Afghanistan
    has an obvious stake in the effectiveness of the PRT.  Canada
    and the UK would also be useful and credible voices in the
    demarche, both because of their own major contributions in
    Afghanistan and because Iceland seeks increased defense and
    security cooperation with them (and with Denmark) in the wake
    of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iceland this year.
    Embassy Reykjavik has already informally raised this issue
    with the GOI.  Following demarches by the PRT members and
    others, Department expects to ask Embassy Reykjavik to
    present a more formal demarche to reinforce the message.

    BACKGROUND
    ----------

    ¶4.  (U)  The GOI intends to withdraw the Icelandic mobile
    patrol team (Mobile Liaison Observation Team/MLOT) from
    Afghanistan at the end of April 2007 (Ref A).  This decision
    reflects an effort by the GOI, which has no military, to
    steer its peacekeeping contributions away from activities
    that are controversial with the Icelandic public,
    particularly from roles where Icelandic peacekeepers are
    armed or wear military-type uniforms (Ref B).  Posts may draw
    from the following background information in requesting host
    governments to demarche the GOI:

    --The Government of Iceland intends to withdraw its civilian
    peacekeeping personnel from the Lithuania-led PRT in
    Chaghcharan in April 2007. Iceland's contribution to the PRT
    currently consists of a Mobile Liaison Observation Team
    (MLOT) totaling 13 persons.  The withdrawal of the Icelandic
    MLOT would be a serious loss for the PRT.

    --Because of its make-up, special equipment, and experience
    driving in the kind of harsh terrain found in Ghor Province,
    the Icelandic team has been especially effective in
    conducting patrols.  Moreover, through its reliability,
    efforts to pass on skills to other patrol units, and unique
    rescue capability, the Icelanders have made the PRT as a
    whole much more effective.

    --The Icelandic MLOT is unique in the resources and skills it
    brings to its designated patrols in PRT Chaghcharan.  A major
    problem for all the other patrols is lack of experience at
    driving in the harsh mountain conditions of Ghor Province.
    The Icelandic team is used to off-road driving up steep
    inclines and fording rivers - including at night.  The
    Icelanders, and only the Icelanders, have truly all-weather
    vehicles (Nissan Patrols) and the appropriate tires for
    handling the extremely rough and mountainous terrain of often
    snow-bound Ghor province (there are no paved roads).
    --The makeup of the Icelandic team of civilian specialists --
    two counter-terrorism policemen, a search and rescue worker,
    skilled drivers, a paramedic, and a mechanic (who
    participates in the patrols) - has resulted in remarkable
    reliability for the team's missions, and particularly
    valuable and insightful reporting.  Even if Iceland were to
    turn over its vehicles to other PRT elements at the end of
    April, it would waste much of the major investment Iceland
    has made in bringing the vehicles to Afghanistan because,
    without the corresponding special driving skills and
    ride-along mechanic, the vehicles would soon become as
    vulnerable to problems as the rest of the PRT's vehicle
    fleet.

    --Beyond the value they add through their own patrols, the
    Icelanders contribute by making every effort to pass on to
    the other elements their special driving skills.  Moreover,
    this winter the Icelanders have already had occasion to
    rescue other units' stranded vehicles, and they have been
    paired up with other units as a safeguard.

    --We understand that the Icelandic Government's policy on
    peacekeeping, as stated by Foreign Minister Sverrisdottir
    October 19, is to take on purely civilian missions where
    Iceland has particular niche capabilities to contribute,
    while gradually increasing the number of peacekeepers
    deployed overseas at any one time.  Although the Icelandic
    team's mission in PRT Chaghcharan involves real danger and
    close cooperation with military forces, it is still a
    civilian mission and a perfect example of an Icelandic niche
    capability.  The team's rules of engagement do not allow it
    to participate in combat except in self-defense, its members
    are not part of the PRT's quick response force, and they do
    not perform guard duty.

    --The core mission of PRT Chaghcharan is performing patrols,
    and the Icelandic MLOT does this uniquely well and makes an
    all-but-irreplaceable contribution to enabling the other
    elements to perform their roles effectively.  The team's
    withdrawal just a couple of months from now would be a
    serious loss to the PRT.  We urge you to join us in
    approaching the Government of Iceland, asking that it
    reconsider this decision.
    RICE

`