Cablegate: French Support Streamlining U.S. Command And

VZCZCXYZ0019
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #1863 2821624
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081624Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4461
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1618
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS PARIS 001863

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH SUPPORT STREAMLINING U.S. COMMAND AND
CONTROL IN AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. STATE 106861
B. PARIS 1750
C. PARIS 1853

1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified - Not for Internet
Distribution.

2. (SBU) During the recent visits to Paris of USDP Eric
Edelman (ref B) and General David Petraeus (ref C), both men
raised with their French interlocutors the recent designation
of General McKiernan as ISAF as well as OEF commander in
Afghanistan. French officials from the Elysee, MFA and MOD
all agreed with the reasoning behind the decision to
streamline internal U.S. command and control arrangements in
Afghanistan by dual-hatting General McKiernan and they
expressed support for the USG decision. (Embassy comment:
The U.S. command and control structure modifications were
viewed as a purely practical decision by the GOF and the
announcement did not raise any concerns among French
decision-makers).

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