SALVADORANS WITHDRAWING FROM IRAQ

id: 184668
date: 12/23/2008 22:17
refid: 08SANSALVADOR1402
origin: Embassy San Salvador
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 08BAGHDAD4019
header:
R 232217Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
NSC WASHINGTON DC
SECSTATE WASHDC 0502
SECDEF WASHDC
INFO AMEMBASSY TALLINN
AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

----------------- header ends ----------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001402
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: MARR, PGOV, PREL, IZ, ES
SUBJECT: SALVADORANS WITHDRAWING FROM IRAQ
 
REF: BAGHDAD 4019
 
Classified By: Ambassador Charles L. Glazer; Reasons 1.4 (b/d)
 
1. (U) President Saca announced mid-day December 23 that the
Salvadoran deployment to Iraq would end on December 31, based
on the fact that UN Security Council Resolution 1790 would
expire on that same day.  Legislative approval of Salvadoran
military participation, he said, was pegged to the UNSC
Resolution.  Earlier in the day the Salvadoran Minister of
Defense sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense saying that
the GOES would be withdrawing from Iraq, essentially
previewing President Saca's announcement.
 
2. (C) Ambassador and Defense Representatives had been in
close touch with the GOES Presidency, Foreign and Defense
Ministries over the past few days, urging them to wait for
the Iraqi parliament to pass the legislation covering the
presence of non-U.S. foreign troops.  The GOES reaction to
the draft of this legislation provided something of a preview
of their decision to withdraw.  They did not like that the
text started with language saying when they had to leave, and
could find nowhere in the text any statement of recognition
or appreciation of the Salvadoran contribution or sacrifices
to date, including five combat deaths.
 
3. (C) COMMENT:  The Salvadoran public announcement went the
high road and emphasized the accomplishment of concrete
missions in their area of operations in Iraq.  We interpret
their decision as fitting into more of a political than an
operational context:  They earned considerable good will with
the USG and with President Bush personally, and were not
clear that there would be any carry-over to the next USG
administration.  In the local political context the
deployment was never popular; announcing a withdrawal at
Christmas-time will probably boost President Saca's personal
popularity ratings.  On the other hand, Embassy does not
believe that there will be any benefit to the presidential
candidate of the ruling (ARENA) party, in the sense that Iraq
or foreign policy have not been significant issues in the
campaign.
 
 
GLAZER

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