Cablegate: Cabinet Approves 8th Rotation to Iraq

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUM #0382 1780854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270854Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1256
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0053
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2812
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5637
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RHHMUNA/PACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000382

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV EFIN MG IZ PL
SUBJECT: Cabinet Approves 8th Rotation to Iraq

REF: Ulaanbaatar 375 and previous

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

1. (SBU) On June 26, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas, Middle
East and Africa Director General Jambaldorj confirmed to the
Ambassador that the Cabinet had earlier that day approved an 8th
rotation of troops to Iraq. Foreign Policy Advisor to the President
Tsogtbaatar and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister

SIPDIS
Davaasuren separately confirmed this to the DCM as well. Earlier in
the day, Ministry of Defense sources told the DATT that Mongolian
Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Togoo would go before the Cabinet in
the afternoon to personally argue for sending the detachment. The
136 troops will depart early on June 30 by chartered flight for
Kuwait en route to Iraq. The Ambassador plans to see them off at
the airport that day.

2. (SBU) COMMENT: The March POTUS phone call to President
Enkhbayar was pivotal in terms of nudging the National Security
Council (President, Prime Minister, and Speaker) to recommend
approval of the 8th rotation to the Cabinet. Achieving this
important goal of continuing Mongolia's troop participation in Iraq
required heavy lobbying of Mongolian officials at all levels here,
most recently by EAP A/S Hill, as well as in Washington. Mongolia
has been a faithful ally in Iraq and Afghanistan in part because we
have maintained a strong, cooperative military-to-military
relationship.

Minton

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