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Cablegate: (U) Nsdd-38 Request for New Position in Wellington

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

S E C R E T WELLINGTON 000662

SIPDIS

STATE FOR HR/RMA/CSEP (LOWENGART) AND EAP/EX (MITCHELL)
CANBERRA FOR SUSLOC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2014
TAGS: APER AMGT NZ
SUBJECT: (U) NSDD-38 REQUEST FOR NEW POSITION IN WELLINGTON

REF: STATE 138636

Classified By: AMB. CHARLES J. SWINDELLS FOR REASON 1.5 (C).

1. (S) The National Security Agency (NSA) has requested a
new, permanent position in Wellington attached to, but not
residing at, the Embassy (reftel) - a Deputy Special U.S.
Liaison Officer. Based on a thorough review of the policy
and resource implications of this request, the Ambassador
recommends that the State Department approve this request.
He believes that the potential benefits of the new position
-- in terms of closer signals intelligence cooperation with
New Zealand -- far outweigh the additional administrative
burden it will place on the Embassy.

2. (S) The Ambassador's recommendation reflects the
following analysis. The new position will advance US
interests in New Zealand by improving liaison and cooperation
on vital signals intelligence matters. This is an area where
the US and NZ already work together closely and profitably,
and continuing to build and expand that relationship clearly
stands to benefit both countries. This is especially true in
the post-September 11 environment, where NZ sigint
capabilities significantly enhance our common efforts to
combat terrorism in the region and the world. The Embassy
already has a close working relationship with the NZ
Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) that will be
enhanced by the establishment of this new position. Embassy
also has an understanding with NSA that the new position will
cover Congressionally mandated information security
requirements that neither the Defense Attache Office nor our
State officers have the technical expertise to undertake.

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3. (S) On administrative matters, the GCSB will provide the
new NSA officer with office space; office furniture;
computer, telephone and other equipment and supplies. NSA
will fully fund the position and will pay for housing and
purchase all residential furnishings directly. NSA will
contract with the Embassy for the following ICASS services:
Basic Package; Community Liaison Office services; Financial
Management Services (medium level support); General Services
(low level support); and Short-Term Residential Lease
Building Operations. As a result of these arrangements, the
resource impact of the new position on this Special Embassy
Program post will be minimized, and can be fully absorbed
within post's current ICASS system.

4. (S) Based on the scenario above, there should be no
start-up costs associated with this new position. Using
Embassy's FY 2004 service costs as a base, the total annual
estimated cost of providing ICASS services is USD 23,649.

5. (S) Embassy recommends that Washington agencies determine
the appropriate level and type of accreditation for this new
position.

Swindells

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