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(S) Middle East and North Africa Build-Out Status
FROM: Mary Jo Coyner
MENA Global Capabilities Manager (S2E)
Run Date: 03/24/2006
(TS//SI) The Middle East and North Africa mission is performed at
primarily two locations: NSA/CSS Washington (NSAW) and
NSA/CSS Georgia (NSAG) and includes the geo-political and/or
military targets of the following countries: Iraq, the Arabian
Peninsula, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, the
Maghreb, the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinian terrorist
groups.
(TS//SI) From a MENA perspective, the build-out has been ongoing
since 1995 when the former Fort Gordon Regional Security
Operations Center (GRSOC) was created. At that time, GRSOC was
focused exclusively on MENA mission and that continued to be the
case until after the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 when
GRSOC began to perform some mission in support of
Counterterrorism and Regional Targets.
(TS//SI) Historically, Georgia was responsible for providing tactical
support to the warfighter through near real time coverage of
selected MENA military targets. When mission build-out to the
Cryptologic Centers began, it therefore seemed logical to transfer
most of the remaining MENA military targets to Georgia. In
addition, under MENA's build-out plan, Georgia would assume
responsibility for long-term analysis and assessment for all of the
MENA military targets for which it already was assigned analytic
and reporting responsibility. MENA leadership also designated a few
positions in the UK (Menwith Hill Station, RAF Digby, and GCHQ)
and in Germany (European Security Center) to perform mission in
support of MENA.
(U//FOUO) Originally, MENA intended that its buildout efforts would
be completed by the end of FY06. While still working toward that
goal, given current hiring issues and the phasing required to fully
transfer a mission, it is probably more realistic to expect
completion sometime during FY07. One challenge has been
identifying exactly what duties constitute the role of "target office
of primary interest" or TOPI. To those who have had TOPI
responsibilities for some time, this may seem second nature, but
when assuming that role for the first time, many questions arise.
(TS//SI) As missions transfer, it is important to ensure such things
as the handling of ORCON releases, sanitization requests,
engagement with the full range of customers to include
participation in Intelligence Community events, the managing of
foreign relationships, etc., are all documented and that any
training required to deal with these responsibilities is provided.
With the added responsibilities also come additional travel
requirements and associated funding issues. That has been MENA's
focus over the last several months to ensure seamless support to
customers as full responsibility for several missions shift from
Washington to Georgia.
SERIES:
(U//FOUO) A&P BuildOut
1. What's A&P Doing
About Mission
Alignment and the
Build-Out?
2. Weapons and Space
Build-Out Status
3. GEO Build-Out
4. Middle East and
North Africa BuildOut Status
5. Build-Out of the
Combating
Proliferation Mission
6. The Counterterrorism
Build-Out
7. Status of the China
and Korea Mission
Build-Out
8. The International
Security Issues
Build-Out
(TS//SI) The following describes MENA's build-out plans by
location:
NSA/CSS Washington: (TS//SI) When the build-out is complete,
MENA's Washington mission will consist of the geo-political targets
in the Middle East and North Africa . Specifically, MENA Washington
will have full responsibility for all analysis and production activities
associated with issues related to the leadership, political stability,
intelligence services, and diplomatic missions of its target
countries. It will also be responsible for the Palestinian terrorist
targets and for the IRGC Qods Force.
NSA/CSS Georgia : (TS//SI) MENA's goal for Georgia is to
transfer full responsibility for most of MENA's conventional military
missions , to include tactical and long-term support. When the
build-out is complete, Georgia will have full responsibility for Iraqi,
Iranian, Syrian, and Israeli military missions as well as Israeli and
Palestinian Authority police forces. In addition, NSAG will be
reponsible for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps conventional
military forces. Since Georgia had responsibility for parts of some
of these missions already, the build-out has focused on bringing in
personnel to "get healthy" on these targets to enable the full
transfer of responsibility.
European Security Center (ESC): (TS//SI) The ESC will host
MENA's Libyan, Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian conventional
military missions . Originally plans called for moving the MENA
EUCOM-centric North African "strategic" military target to NSAG,
but based on a business case presented by EUCOM, a decision was
made to move most of this mission to the ESC. The one exception
was the Libyan Navy, which is being worked at NSAG by Navy P2
assets. That mission will remain in Georgia. The numbers of
personnel have been identified and the ESC and MENA are
currently finalizing the mission transfer documentation. Hopefully,
the mission transfer will be completed by the end of FY06 or early
FY07.
Menwith Hill Station, RAF Digby, and GCHQ : (TS/SI) As part
of its build-out strategy, MENA identified 10 positions to be
transferred to these locations . At MHS, the positions were
provided to support SIGINT Development efforts on select MENA
targets. Once a target reaches a sustainable state, it is handed off
to either NSAG or NSAW as appropriate. At RAF Digby and at
GCHQ, MENA has identified positions to be integrated with UK
counterparts to work sustained MENA mission at those locations.
This is in keeping with established divisions of effort with GCHQ on
the MENA target set.
(TS//SI) MENA also has worked with F6 to delegate responsibility
for some MENA serialized reporting to a couple of sites with more
to follow in the future. The MENA mission is further extended by its
long-standing relationships with a number of Second and Third
Party foreign partners that provide valuable analytic insights as
well as technical capabilities.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108