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FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0408
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5250
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2254
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 2480
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0027
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0025
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/PACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUCJACC/CENTCOMREAR MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/FO AND EAP/CM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2016 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: CABINET AGREES TO SEND 100-MAN 7TH ROTATION TO 
IRAQ, LIMITED 8TH ROTATION 
 
REF: ULAANBAATAR 723 
 
Classified By: E/P Chief Patrick J. Freeman 
 
 1.  (C) During the Ambassador's September 29 initial call on 
Foreign Minister Enkhbold, Enkhbold confirmed that the 
National Security Council (President, Speaker and Prime 
Minister) had decided on September 26 to recommend that the 
Cabinet reconsider its decision to send only a limited number 
of troops in Mongolia's 7th rotation to Iraq, and to take 
into account the requests of the United States and Poland 
(reftel).  The next day, Enkhbold said, the Cabinet had 
discussed the issue at its regular meeting, and had decided 
to send a 7th rotation with the 100 troops, the same number 
as previously, and to send the rotation to Camp Echo. 
 
 2.  (C) In addition, the Foreign Minister said, the Cabinet 
had decided to withdraw the troops if Camp Echo is 
transferred from the Multinational Force to Iraqi military 
control; if this happened, the rotation would not stay the 
normal six months.  Despite such a withdrawal, the FM 
continued, the Cabinet had decided to still continue to be 
involved in the fight against terrorism.  This would be done 
through the commitment of a lesser number of troops or a 
small number of officers in a future rotation. 
 
 3.  (C) The Ambassador responded that Mongolia's decision to 
send a full 7th rotation would be very much appreciated in 
Washington.  Many people appreciated the role that Mongolia's 
forces play in Iraq.  The Ambassador commented that 
Mongolia's courageous decision to send troops to Iraq are one 
key reason for the warm feelings in Washington and the U.S. 
military toward Mongolia.  Mongolia has a sovereign right to 
adjust its troops deployments, the Ambassador continued, but 
the important point is that we should consult closely. 
Mongolia's very early expression of its thinking on future 
deployments would be helpful to us. 
 
 4.  (U) A Mongolian news report on September 29 stated that, 
after much discussion, the Cabinet had decided to send a 7th 
rotation to Iraq equal in size to previous deployments.  The 
report continued by stating that a departure ceremony for the 
7th rotation would be held on September 29, and that the 
troops are expected to deploy to Iraq the week of October 2. 
(NOTE:  DAO confirms that U.S. airlift has been arranged for 
an October 2 troop departure.) 
MINTON