Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12779 / 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 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 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 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 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 2002/12
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 Consulate Fukuoka
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 Sapporo 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
AMED ASEC AF AORC AMGT AFIN AJ AR AS AE ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AU AID AG ASCH AA AL AM AORL AEMR APECO APER ASEAN APEC ADM AFSI AFSN ABLD ADCO ABUD ASUP AN AIT AGR ACOA ANET ASIG AGMT AINF AECL AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF AGAO ACS AMCHAMS ADPM ATRN ALOW AND APCS ACAO AORG AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AFU AMG ATPDEA
BL BR BTIO BA BG BEXP BTIU BO BK BBSR BU BRUSSELS BD BM BIDEN BE BH BILAT BF BY BC BB BT BX BP BMGT BWC BN
CO CA CASC CJAN CI CH CNARC CS CU CVIS CACM CG CMGT CPAS CB CD CM CV CDG CIDA CWC CLINTON CHR CBW COE CR CE CIS CDC CONS CY CW CF CODEL CIA CROS CAPC CT CBSA CEUDA COM CFED CACS CAC CIC COPUOS CL CARSON CN CTR CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC
DR DEA DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE
ECON EAID EC EUN EAIR EFIN EINV EG EXTERNAL ENRG EPET ETRD EAGR ETTC ECIN ELAB EUREM ET EU ELN ECPS ER EIND EMIN ELTN EWWT EFIS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPA EINT ES EUC ENGR ENERG EN EZ ERD EFTA EK ETRC EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR EXIM ENIV ESA EUR ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EUMEM ERNG ECONOMY ECA EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG
FR FI FAC FARC FTA FJ FAO FDA FMLN FBI FO FAS FTAA FOREIGN FOR FM FREEDOM FISO FINANCE FINR FOI
GE GOI GM GG GR GT GCC GV GH GOV GA GTIP GY GERARD GZ GAERC GANGS GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HO HA HILLARY HYMPSK HR HU HSTC HK HEBRON HUMOR HI HURI HUMAN
IT IR IS IC IAEA IN IZ ICTY ICAO IO IMO INMARSAT INDO IL ID IRS IQ IA ICRC IDA ICJ IV IAHRC IBRD IMF IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IRC ITRA IDP ICTR IEFIN IRAQI IPR IIP ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI
JO JA JM JOSEPH JP JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KJUS KPAO KIRF KDEM KCOR KPAL KNNP KCRM KWMN KIRC KMDR KIPR KWBG KTFN KGHG KE KUNR KMPI KOMC KPKO KSCA KFLU KFIN KSUM KTDB KAWC KRVC KGIC KFRD KISL KTIP KVPR KICC KHDP KCFE KTIA KSEO KCIP KZ KG KWAC KSPR KRAD KPRP KN KS KHLS KTEX KNAR KPLS KGCC KPAK KSTC KFLO KSEP KV KSTH KU KSCI KOLY KIDE KOMS KMCA KACT KHIV KBCT KDRG KBTR KAWK KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KTBT KSAF KMOC KBIO KREC KCGC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KO KVIR KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KGIT KWMM KHSA KX KPOA KNEI KCRS KR KVRP KENV KCRCM KBTS KNSD KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KCOM KLIG KDEMAF KAID KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS
LO LE LY LI LA LG LH LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MASS MX MNUC MAPP MARR MCAP MZ MR MO MT ML MA MY MTCRE MIL MD MASSMNUC MU MK MTCR MUCN MEPP MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTRE MASC MG MRCRE MPS MW MARAD MC MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC
NZ NATO NSF NL NE NU NK NSSP NI NA NS NPT NO NDP NSC NAFTA NH NV NP NPA NSFO NG NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NR NIPP NZUS NC NEW NRR NAR NATOPREL
OTRA OIIP OPRC OMIG OREP OVIP OVP OSCE OPIC OSCI OEXC OECD OIE OPDC OAS ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OIC OCS OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PREL PE PGOV PHUM PINS PTER PINR PL PARM PK PM PREF PBTS PNAT PA POL PLN POLITICAL PARTIES PO PHSA PCUL PAK PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBIO PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PMIL PALESTINIAN PDOV PRAM PSEPC PROG POV PROV POLITICS POLICY PCI POSTS PREO PAHO PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PGOC PY PHUH PF PHUS PU
QA
RU RS RW RP RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RO RCMP ROOD RSO RM ROBERT RICE RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SOCI SENV SY SMIG SA SNAR SW SU SO SP SCUL SZ SR SHUM SARS SF SN SC SIPRS SI SEVN STEINBERG SG SYR SWE SK SH SNARCS SAARC SPCE SNARN SNARIZ SEN SCRS SYRIA SL SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI
TBIO TU TRGY TW TIP TPHY TS TT TNGD TSPL TH TSPA TD TI TX TZ TC TINT TN TP TBID TF TL THPY TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK US UNSC UNCHR UN USTR UNHRC UNGA UG UNEP UZ UP UNESCO UNPUOS USEU UNMIK UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR USUN UNCND USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VE VT VM VZ VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WMO WWARD WHTI WTRO WHO WHA WS WTO WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WITH WEU WA
XL XW XS XR XA XM XD XV XK XX XG XY XF XU XI XT XH XB XQ XE XTAG XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZF ZI ZK ZR ZP ZU ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### 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 08SANJOSE596, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL: ENDURING FRIENDSHIP

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. #08SANJOSE596.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08SANJOSE596 | 2008-07-11 22:30 | 2011-03-07 18:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2702320.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702325.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2702324.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702326.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702327.aspx

`

    VZCZCXRO5349
    OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
    RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
    DE RUEHSJ #0596/01 1932230
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    O 112230Z JUL 08
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9938
    INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
    RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN HQ WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAN JOSE 000596

    SIPDIS
    SENSITIVE

    DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, INL/LP, AND PM; OSD FOR POLICY;
    SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR FPA

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL MASS MCAP PINS SNAR CS
    SUBJECT: ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL: ENDURING FRIENDSHIP
    BOATS ARE NOT THE BEST SOLUTION FOR COSTA RICA

    REF: A. 07 SAN JOSE 2074
         ¶B. SAN JOSE 586
         ¶C. SAN JOSE 530
         ¶D. SAN JOSE 400
         ¶E. SAN JOSE 63

    ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post appreciates Department's and other
    agency's hard work to secure Merida Initiative funding for
    Costa Rica. However, we do not/not recommend the purchase of
    Enduring Friendship (EF) vessels for Costa Rica.  We
    understand there is a short deadline to develop the spending
    plan required by Congress, but a hasty decision that appears
    expedient in the short run may not prove effective over the
    longer run. We therefore ask that our views be given serious
    consideration during inter-agency review of the Merida
    package for Central America.  Our reasons are as follows:

     -- A U.S. Coast Guard survey in March 2008 reported that EF
    vessels were not an appropriate platform to conduct primary
    Costa Rican Coast Guard (SNGC) missions, such as
    counternarcotics operations;

     -- Our Office of Defense Representative (ODR), has
    consistently reported the difficulties experienced by other
    countries' EF boats in the region, especially their fairly
    sophisticated, maintenance-intensive nature.  Moreover, some
    of the regional maritime services experiencing problems with
    EF boats are more capable than Costa Rica's.  If these other
    users are having problems, we expect that the SNGC would as
    well; and

     -- Our ODR's own survey of current SNGC capabilities, which
    highlight the challenges of keeping high-maintenance boats
    such as EF in service.

    ¶2. (SBU) ACTION REQUESTS:  Post understands that Merida
    Initiative maritime interdiction assistance is likely to come
    from FMF funding, since INCLE Merida funds were cut.

    --  Please advise if INCLE funding for refurbishing existing
    SNGC vessels, as we have requested since 2007 (Ref A), is now
    completely out of the question.

    --  Please also advise why FMF funding could not be used for
    the refurbishment and acquisition package Post originally
    suggested for Merida, and which has been included, up to this
    point, in Merida planning.

    Post very strongly believes that the challenges presented by
    operating and maintaining EF boats would hobble USG maritime
    counternarcotics efforts in Costa Rica.  In our view, one
    size does not fit all.  We strongly urge that other options
    be carefully considered (e.g., SPE-LE boats, Ref B), before
    the USG presents the GOCR (and this Post) with what appears
    to be an Enduring Friendship fait accompli.  We invite other
    embassies in the region to comment on their experiences with
    EF boats.  END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTS.

    ==========================
    USCG SURVEY AND POST INPUT
    ==========================

    ¶3. (SBU) From March 24-28, a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime
    Assessment team conducted a survey of the SNGC.  The
    assessment focused on Maritime Law Enforcement, SNGC
    operations, engineering and preventative maintenance,
    training, and legal authorities.  Although not yet issued,
    the draft report highlights problems with EF boats for Costa
    Rica as follows:

    BEGIN QUOTE: These high speed, high performance (Enduring
    Friendship) boats require extensive maintenance hours, both
    electronically and mechanically.  They also require a
    significant amount of technical coxswain training for high
    speed maneuvering.  Moreover, they do not provide an
    appropriate platform to conduct the primary SNGC missions.
    END QUOTE.

    ¶4. (SBU) One of the practical considerations for interceptor
    boats is the ability to safely board vessels without causing
    damage to either the boarding vessel or the vessel being
    boarded.  EF boats have rigid hulls that increase the

    SAN JOSE 00000596  002 OF 003

    likelihood of damage in high seas during boarding operations.
     Options, such as U.S. Coast Guard Safe boats, negate that
    possibility with foam-filled hulls that are similar to
    inflatables but without the risk of being punctured and
    losing air.  This soft "fender" capability greatly reduces
    the risk of damage.

    ¶5. (SBU Post acknowledges that Safe boats may also be
    maintenance intensive, and we would certainly welcome
    suggestions for other craft that are more basic and simpler
    to operate and maintain, but we firmly believe that this type
    of soft-sided vessel would be an overall better fit for the
    SNGC than EF units.  They would provide the interceptor
    capability while maximizing safety factors for all involved
    in boarding operations.  We understand that one option under
    consideration is to modify EF boats, by retrofitting rubber
    side rails, to minimize boarding damage.  We believe that
    such modifications, even if seemingly cost-effective and
    potentially available quickly, would not make the EF boats
    significantly less maintenance-intensive or easier to operate
    for the SNGC.

    ¶6. (SBU) Post's ODR office reports that some other regional
    navies or coast guards have had maintenance problems with EF
    boats, including the Dominican Republic and Panama.  We
    understand that all the Panamanian EF boats are inoperable at
    the moment, for example, due to maintenance problems.  If so,
    we urge that these problems be taken into account before
    supplying EF boats for all users in the region.  If other, in
    some cases more capable, users have difficulties operating EF
    boats, we expect the same would happen in Costa Rica.  We
    welcome input from posts with EF assets: have these boats
    been a prudent and effective acquisition for your host
    nations?

    ¶7. (SBU) Given these reasons, we strongly believe that
    Enduring Friendship boats are not/not the best choice for
    Costa Rica.  We therefore do not/not recommend their
    purchase, but strongly urge that other options be considered
    (such as USCG Safe boats or similar).

    ===============================
    REVIEW OF SECURITY REQUIREMENTS
    ===============================

    ¶8. (SBU) We stand by our earlier recommendations (Ref A) of
    what the SNGC needs most, based on GOCR input and our own
    2007 assessment:

    A) FY2008 MERIDA INITIATIVE SUPPLEMENTAL ($1.975 million
    total):  Refit and refurbish the inoperable SNGC 65-foot
    patrol boat in Limon ($900K); modernize all electronics on
    two 82-foot patrol boats ($175K); buy two new interceptors
    ($600K); refit four existing 25-foot Eduardono-type "go-fast"
    patrol boats ($300K).  This would leave the SNGC with two new
    and seven improved maritime assets for CN operations.

    Although we understand that Congressional and funding
    realities require adjustment to these plans, the most
    generous alternative under discussion in the inter-agency
    process now would provide just two EF boats (and supporting
    equipment) to the SNGC, with none of the refurbishment
    support for the older boats, and at a higher cost.  We do not
    understand how such a "trade down" from nine new/improved
    assets to just two (at a higher cost) serves GOCR, USG (or US
    taxpayer) interests.

    B) FY 2009 MERIDA INITIATIVE REQUEST ($2.035 million total):
    Refit and refurbish the two 82-foot patrol boats that would
    have received the electronics package in FY08 ($1.6M); buy
    one new interceptor ($300K); install FLIR on three air
    surveillance aircraft ($135K).

    C) FY2010 MERIDA INITIATIVE REQUEST ($2.8 million total):
    Refit inoperable SNGC 105-foot patrol boat ($2.5M); buy one
    new interceptor ($300K).  We would modify the FY09 and FY10
    requests based on the final decision for FY08.  If INCLE
    funding for boat refurbishment is out of the question for
    Merida FY08, then we strongly urge that these requirements be
    factored into Merida FY09.

    =======

    SAN JOSE 00000596  003 OF 003

    COMMENT
    =======

    ¶9. (SBU) As per Refs. B-C, Costa Rica's Ministry of Public
    Security has consistently told us of their most important
    priorities, which are mainly fixing the SNGC and receiving
    police professionalization training and new police equipment.
     The GOCR has supported the goals of the Merida Initiative as
    well, especially with their valued input at the January
    SICA-based Merida input meeting in El Salvador (Ref E).  We
    should respond by providing what the SNGC needs and what it
    can use, not an off-the-shelf package that is inappropriate
    for the SNGC's capabilities.  This would be like giving a
    15-year a Ferrari.
    CIANCHETTE

`