

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08SANJOSE71, RE-BUILDING BRIDGES IN COSTA RICA: A THREE-WAY
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08SANJOSE71.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08SANJOSE71 | 2008-01-30 15:03 | 2011-03-21 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy San Jose |
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #0071/01 0301510
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301510Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9392
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUMIAGH/COMJTF-B SIMS SOTO CANO HO
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000071
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, WHA/EPSC, PM AND EEB,
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CS EAID MASS PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: RE-BUILDING BRIDGES IN COSTA RICA: A THREE-WAY
PARTNERSHIP
REF: A. SAN JOSE 003
¶B. SAN JOSE 1891 (NOTAL)
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an unusual three-way partnership, the
GOCR, the Costa Rican private sector and the U.S. military
have embarked on a campaign to replace key bridges damaged or
washed out by flooding in the heavy 2007 rainy season. Most
of the work will be undertaken by the National Emergency
Commission (CNE) and a new business group called "Businessmen
for Solidarity" (Empresarios Solidarios), which will combine
forces to replace as many as 30 short-span and culvert
bridges. The U.S. role, begun by a SOUTHCOM technical survey
in December, will be to help the GOCR erect as many as six
Bailey-type bridges. President Arias requested USG assistance
for the initiative. Following the successful medical
exercise last month (Ref A), this is another example of a new
Costa Rican willingness to welcome U.S. military humanitarian
assistance. END SUMMARY.
==================
A BAD RAINY SEASON
==================
¶2. (U) The 2007 rainy season (May-December) was particularly
heavy in Costa Rica, prompting the GOCR to declare a national
disaster in October. Communities in all seven provinces were
affected by flooding, which isolated communities, damaged
homes and infrastructure, and displaced thousands (Ref B). In
light of the disaster, the Embassy made available $50,000 in
OFDA disaster assistance for emergency supplies and fuel. In
mid-November, the CNE reported that some 18,000 people had
been affected overall, with 18 killed and nearly 2,900 left
homeless. The CNE initially estimated that 124 major
stretches of road and 29 bridges had been washed away or
severely damaged. Total damages at that time were estimated
at 35 billion colones ($70 million). As revised information
became available, the CNE later raised the tally to 135-160
bridges and culverts washed out or damaged nationwide.
Infrastructure damage was so extensive, in fact, that one of
the first tangible results of Costa Rica,s newly-established
diplomatic relations with China was $20 million in disaster
relief funding from Beijing, delivered in mid-December, which
will go towards housing reconstruction (septel).
==============================
THE PRIVATE SECTOR MOVES FIRST
==============================
¶3. (SBU) To address the infrastructure reconstruction needs
and to highlight the Costa Rican private sector,s sense of
corporate responsibility, a group of firms joined forces to
help with the post-flooding reconstruction. Calling
themselves Empresarios Solidarios (Businessmen for
Solidarity), the loose consortium was drawn from financial,
engineering, construction, and media firms under the informal
leadership of Grupo Nacion, which owns the nation,s leading
newspaper. The group,s ambitious initial plan, as briefed
to the Ambassador and Emboffs on October 29, was to raise USD
1 million to rebuild eight bridges leading to isolated
communities around the nation. The group deliberately
targeted not only areas in need, but also zones which had
voted against CAFTA during the October 2007 national
referendum. The group also sought to distance itself from
the GOCR, partially because the businessmen believed they
could work faster than the government, and partly because
they wanted to ensure the private sector received due credit.
The preliminary USG role, according to the Empresarios,
would be to help locate, deliver or supply Bailey or ACROW
bridging material.
======================
THE GOCR ASKS FOR HELP
======================
¶4. (SBU) Through November and December, Emboffs were invited
to join the weekly planning meetings of the Empresarios
group. The ODR Chief and his staff, as well as Pol/C and
Poloffs, participated. Our first objective was GOCR support
for the bridges plan, which would help facilitate any formal
request for assistance. In a letter from President Arias to
the Ambassador on November 5 (copy sent to WHA/CEN and
SOUTHCOM), we received both. Arias,s letter expressed
satisfaction with and gratitude for the Empresarios,
initiative, and asked for any assistance the USG could
provide. Following a late-November call from the Ambassador
to SOUTHCOM (Adm. Stavrides), SOUTHCOM and Post ODR staff
began considering specific ways the USG could help.
=================
REFINING THE PLAN
=================
¶5. (SBU) Our second objective was to persuade the Empresarios
to coordinate with the CNE to ensure that any private sector
bridge reconstruction meshed with national needs. Despite
the group,s initial reluctance to work with the GOCR, they
quickly realized that CNE expertise and cooperation would be
essential. As the weekly meetings continued (with CNE
involvement), the Empresarios, plan was refined. The group
would target communities in need, financing and building
bridges which had been washed out by the rain (and not
structures the Ministry of Transport planned to improve or
replace at some point.) The group hoped the bridges would be
just the first step in a long-term private sector commitment
to infrastructure improvement.
¶6. (U) By the end of November, the CNE and the Empresarios
had agreed to work first on a list of 15 priority short-span
(less than 15 meters in length) bridges. All would be
constructed using local materials (concrete) and local labor.
The total cost was projected to be over USD 1 million,
exhausting what the business group had collected to that
point. The group planned to approach additional companies
(including some U.S. multinationals) for additional
contributions. The Empresarios (wisely) postponed their
original plans to spend money on a few, more impressive (but
far more costly) longer-span structures.
=================
SOUTHCOM RESPONDS
=================
¶7. (SBU) Our third objective was to focus and refine the USG
role. Initially, the Empresarios group had inflated
expectations about what the U.S. could provide, and how
quickly. By early December, we had re-shaped the potential
USG role to a realistic four components: a) survey the
longer-span bridge sites the CNE had already identified, b)
provide technical assistance to the CNE to erect replacement
Bailey- or ACROW-type bridges, c) actually erect a Bailey- or
ACROW-type bridge, using a deployed U.S. military unit, and
d) if necessary in the future, help locate, find the best
price and help arrange transportation for additional Bailey
or ACROW bridging materials, to be funded by the Empresarios
group. At an Embassy-hosted meeting on December 10, the CNE
and Empresarios agreed to this approach.
¶8. (U) December 17-21, a two-member engineering team from
SOUTHCOM (an Army engineer and a Navy Seabee) joined CNE
engineers and PolOff on a survey of six longer-span bridging
sites which may be candidates for USG technical assistance.
The six sites spanned the length and breadth of Costa Rica,
from the central Pacific to the central Caribbean, and from
the central south to near the Nicaraguan border, covering
parts of Puntarenas, Heredia and Guanacaste provinces and the
canton of Perez Zeledon. The engineers also inspected stored
bridging materials, to ensure that what was assigned to each
site would indeed function there.
¶9. (U) As a result of the team,s four-day, 800-mile
circuit, the U.S. engineers were able to identify and
recommend alternative sites for two of the
six bridges, as well as additional engineering work to be
performed at all sites, such as new abutments, box culverts
and improved access. The U.S. team also recommended raising
some bridges to
above flood level, to avoid future problems. Finally, one
bridge
was identified as being in need of maintenance and
improvements, but not of complete replacement. The CNE
director and his engineering staff agreed with and welcomed
the recommendations.
==========
NEXT STEPS
==========
¶10. (U) The Empresarios Group is to resume regular meetings
this month, with an eye to launching its initiative (and the
first one or two short-bridge construction projects) at the
end of January. For the longer-span bridges, the SOUTHCOM
survey team will identify U.S. units (e.g., from Ft. Leonard
Woord, the Army Corps of Engineers, the 416th Engineering
Company or a USN SeaBee unit) that could deploy a small team
to provide subject matter expertise to help the CNE erect new
ACROW- or Bailey-type bridges, using materials the CNE
already has on hand. The CNE must first complete its
planning, which includes preparing the bridging site(s). The
first U.S.-assisted bridge site could be the 32 meter gap
across the Pacuar River, in Perez Zeledon canton (N 09 22,
29.7" x W 084 01, 21.9"), at the end of March, if the GOCR
completes the site preparations in time.
=======
COMMENT
=======
¶11. (SBU) What began as an effort to highlight corporate
responsibility following the hard-fought CAFTA referendum has
become another opportunity to display USG "soft power" on
Costa Rica. The businessmen deserve credit for launching
this unusual initiative and for obtaining the letter from
President Arias. The CNE deserves kudos for being receptive
to the private sector assistance. Our goal is
capacity-building, not doing everything for the Ticos, and
the GOCR (and the Empresarios) seem to agree. Even if the
ambitious private sector plan slows, the U.S. military has an
important, high-impact (and low-cost) role to play in
providing technical assistance. Our thanks to SOUTHCOM and
the units involved for responding so quickly to this
opportunity.
BRENNAN