EL SALVADOR: ASSEMBLY VOTES FOR ONE YEAR EXTENSION IN IRAQ

id: 89760
date: 12/15/2006 15:57
refid: 06SANSALVADOR2953
origin: Embassy San Salvador
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 06SANSALVADOR2394
header:
VZCZCXYZ0015
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #2953 3491557
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151557Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4675
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0042
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 0090
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0076
RUCAACC/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002953
 
SIPDIS
 
SIPDIS
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, MASS, IZ, ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: ASSEMBLY VOTES FOR ONE YEAR EXTENSION
IN IRAQ
 
REF: SAN SALVADOR 2394
 
Classified By: Polcouns C. Garcia.  Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
 
1.  (U)  Late on December 14, El Salvador's Legislative
Assembly passed a resolution extending the authorization for
Salvadoran participation in the Multinational Forces-Iraq
through December 31, 2007.  The measure passed with 49 votes
in favor (ARENA, National Conciliation (PCN), and Christian
Democrats (PDC)) and 34 votes against (FMLN, Democratic
Change (CD)).  The Salvadoran forces are already preparing to
send their 8th contingent of the Cuscatalan Batallion in
February 2007.
 
2.  (C)  COMMENT: The continued presence of Salvadoran troops
in Iraq is a major domestic political sacrifice for the Saca
Administration, as polling published this week in leading
daily La Prensa Grafica shows steady popular opposition (81
percent against, 12 percent in favor) to Salvadoran troops in
Iraq.  Nevertheless, Saca continues to take this political
risk to maintain what he sees as a close personal
relationship with President Bush and the U.S. Despite
unwavering support from President Saca and his ARENA party,
securing this vote required significant Embassy intervention
with the PCN.  PCN legislator (and retired colonel) Jose
Antonio Almendariz, who has always supported the Iraq effort
and has even visited the Salvadoran troops, decided early in
the week to push for a six month extension vice a year and
tried to convince others in the PCN to support his position.
The Ambassador met with and succeeded in convincing the PCN
president and party leaders to secure the 10 vital PCN votes,
and Almendariz added his vote in the end as well.
Barclay

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