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ACTION PM-04
INFO OCT-01 EA-07 ISO-00 NSC-05 SP-02 SS-15 CIAE-00 INR-07
NSAE-00 DODE-00 MMO-01 PER-01 ABF-01 OMB-01 MC-02
ACDA-07 /054 W
--------------------- 027882
R 281000Z SEP 76
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6245
INFO CINCPAC
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SINGAPORE 4484
CINCPAC ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: MASS, XX
SUBJ: STAFFING OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS IN SINGAPORE
REF: A-3590, JULY 20, 1976
1. THE INSTRUCTION UNDER REFERENCE INFORMED ALL DIPLOMATIC
POSTS THAT UNDER THE FY '76 SECURITY ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION
(A) ALL MAAGS WOULD CEASE OPERATING AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 1977;
(B) DEFENSE ATTACHE OFFICES COULD NOT PERFORM SECURITY ASSISTANCE
FUNCTIONS AFTER THAT DATE; AND (C) AFTER SEPT. 30, 1977 THE
PRESIDENT MAY ASSIGN "NOT MORE THAN THREE MEMBERS" OF THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CHIEF OF EACH UNITED STATES
DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO PERFORM SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FUNCTIONS.
2. THE FORTHCOMING ABOLITION OF ALL MAAGS POSES NO PROBLEM
FOR EMBASSY SINGAPORE SINCE THERE IS CURRENTLY NO MAAG OPERATING
AT THIS POST. HOWEVER, THE PROHIBITION AGAINST DEFENSE ATTACHE
OFFICES PERFORMING SECURITY ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS AFTER SEPT.
30, 1977 DOES RAISE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM SINCE DAO/SINGAPORE
CURRENTLY DEVOTES BETWEEN ONE-THIRD AND ONE-HALF OF ITS MAN-
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POWER (10 AMERICAN PERSONNEL INCLUDING OFFICERS, ENLISTED MEN
AND ONE DOD CIVILIAN) TO SECURITY ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS (FMS
(CASH SALE) CASES). ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO A CONTINUATION OF
SECURITY ASSISTANCE ACTIVITY AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LEVEL
FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
3. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT TO AVOID ANY
SOLUTION WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AMERICAN
MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THIS EMBASSY. AS THE DEPARTMENT
IS AWARE, THIS EMBASSY OPERATES UNDER A GOVERNMENT IMPOSED
CEILING ON THE NUMBER OF DIPLOMATIC AND NON-DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL.
THE GOS HAS IMPOSED THIS CEILING LARGELY WITH A VIEW TO RE-
STRICTING THE SIZE OF OTHER DIPLOMATIC ESTABLISHMENTS, ESPECIALLY
THE SOVIET EMBASSY AND A PRC EMBASSY WHICH MIGHT WELL BE
ESTABLISHED SOMETIME IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY RESIST ANY REQUEST TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE
EMBASSY, AND THE AMBASSADOR BELIEVES IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO
SEEK AN INCREASE IN THE CEILING UNLESS THERE IS A CLEARLY
DEMONSTRABLE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
4. THE DAO OFFICE AT THIS EMBASSY IS CURRENTLY STAFFED WITH
SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL TO HANDLE BOTH DIA AND FMS REQUIREMENTS.
IF IT WERE TO CEASE HANDLING FMS CASES, IT WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY
OVERSTAFFED. AFTER CONSIDERABLE DELIBERATION AND DISCUSSION
WITH THE DEFENSE ATTACHE, THE EMBASSY WISHES TO PROPOSE A
SOLUTION WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH SECURITY ASSISTANCE
AND INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS COULD BE PERFORMED WITHOUT VIOLATING
EITHER THE LETTER OR THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW LEGISLATION, AND,
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, WOULD NOT INVOLVE ANY INCREASE IN PERSONNEL.
EMBASSY/DAO BELIEVE THE BEST APPROACH WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH
A SEPARATE SECURITY ASSISTANCE OFFICE WHICH WOULD REPORT DIRECTLY
TO THE AMBASSADOR. THIS OFFICE SHOULD BE HEADED BY AN ARMY OR
AIR FORCE OFFICER (AT THE LT. COLONEL LEVEL) WHO WOULD BE SKILLED
IN FMS PROCEDURES (MOST FMS CASES INVOLVE EQUIPMENT PURCHASED
FOR SINGAPORE'S ARMY OR AIR FORCE). THE OFFICE WOULD INCLUDE
TWO ENLISTED MEN AT THE E-5/E-7 LEVEL, AS WELL AS ONE SINGAPORE
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
5. A COMPENSATORY REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL SHOULD BE EFFECTED
IN THE DAO OFFICE BY DELETING ONE OFFICER POSITION AND ONE
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ENLISTED POSITION, AND BY REASSIGNING TO THE SECURITY ASSISTANCE
OFFICE TWO POSITIONS (ONE ENLISTED AND ONE LOCAL HIRE) NOW
ASSIGNED TO THE DAO, BUT WHICH ARE FUNDED BY CINCPAC FOR FMS
ACTIVITIES AND CARRIED ON CINCPAC ROLLS.
6. THE ABOVE RESTRUCTURING OF THE MILITARY COMPONENT AT THIS
POST WOULD IN THE EMBASSY'S JUDGMENT RESOLVE THE SPECIFIC
PROBLEM POSED BY THE PROVISION IN THE LEGISLATION PROHIBITING
DAOS FROM ENGAGING IN SECURITY ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS AFTER
SEPTEMBER 30, 1977. HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT DEFENSE ATTACHES COME CONSTANTLY IN CONTACT WITH HOST
GOVERNMENT MILITARY OFFICERS WHO HAVE HABITUALLY USED THE DAO
AS THE APPROACH POINT WITHIN THE EMBASSY FOR SECURITY ASSISTANCE
REQUESTS. ANY ATTEMPT TO FORCE A TOTAL AND COMPLETE SEPARATION
OF THE ATTACHES FROM SECURITY ASSISTANCE MATTERS WOULD BE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WITHOUT UNDERMINING THEIR DIA FUNCTIONS.
FURTHERMORE, THE AMBASSADOR WOULD PRESUMABLY WISH TO SEEK THE
ADVICE OF HIS SENIOR MILITARY REPRESENTATIVE (THE DEFENSE
ATTACHE) ON ALL MILITARY MATTERS, INCLUDING SECURITY ASSISTANCE
QUESTIONS, EVEN IF THE DAO OFFICE NO LONGER ADMINISTERED
SPECIFIC FMS CASES. THEREFORE, THE EMBASSY WOULD APPRECIATE
THE DEPARTMENT'S GUIDANCE AS TO WHETHER THE PROHIBITION AGAINST
DAO OFFICES ENGAGING IN "SECURITY ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS" WOULD
BAR THESE TRADITIONAL DAO FUNCTIONS. THE EMBASSY WOULD ALSO
APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMENTS ON THE SOLUTION PROPOSED
IN PARAS 4 - 5. HOLDRIDGE
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