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ACTION NEA-05
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 OC-06 CCO-00 PER-05 /017 W
--------------------- 034534
R 071336Z JAN 74
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1103
C O N F I D E N T I A N TEL AVIV 0101
DEPT FOR NEA AND A/OC
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: AFSP, APER, ACOM, IS
SUBJ: C AND R PERSONNEL FOR TEL AVIV
REF: (A) TEL AVIV 10465; (B) STATE 681 (NOTAL)
1. EMBASSY APPRECIATED RAPID RESPONSE TO ITS REQUEST FOR C&R
ASSISTANCE. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT FEEL THAT IN THE LONG HAUL TDY
PERSONNEL ARE THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM, THEY CERTAINLY WILL
ASSIST IN OVERCOMING PRESENT DIFFICULLUES.
2. WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE PERSONNEL CEILING PROBLEM AND WOULD
HAVE AVOIDED REQUESTING ADDITIONAL C&R POSITIONS IF WE THOUGHT
IT COULD BE AVOIDED. UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT VIEW THE INCREASE
IN COMMUNICATIONS WORKLOAD AS TRANSITIONAL. DESPITE THE FACT,
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE VISITING MILITARY TEAMS SUSPENDED
OPERATIONS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON; THAT C&R WAS
PERMITTED
TO CLOSE FOR TWO DAYS AT CHRISTMAS AND TWO DAYS AT NEW YEARS
(EVEN SO CRAS WERE CALLED IN); THAT THE MAJORITY OF TRAFFIC
WAS DIVERTED TO JERUSALEM DURING THE SECRETARY'S VISIT; AND
THAT THE POST WAS ON MINIMIZE FOR FIVE DAYS, THE C&R SECTION
NEVERTHELESS WORKED 373 HOURS OF OVERTIME DURING THE MONTH
OF DECEMBER.
3. THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS LEVIED UPON C&R HAVE
CHANGED CONSIDERABLY SINCE OCTOBER 6. THESE
CHANGES ARE CAUSED BY VARIOUS FACTORS NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH
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IS YPSTIME ZONE REG
TIONSHIP WITH WASHINGTON. IF THE
SUBSTANTIVE OFFICES OF THE MISSION ARE TO BE GIVEN
ADEQUATE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT, INCOMING TRAFFIC MUST BE
READY FOR DISTRIBUTION NO LATER THAN 0830 HOURS EACH DAY. AS
THE BULK OF INCOMING TRAFFIC IS RECEIVED BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND
0600 LOCAL TIME (1800 TO MIDNIGHT WASHINGTON TIME) AND
TCU IS NOT EQUIPPED TO PROCESS THIS TRAFFIC FULLY, THERE IS NO
WAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE POST WITHOUT ESTABLISHING A MIDNIGHT
SHIFT (THIS HAS BEEN DONE SINCE DECEMBER 18 WITH A DROP IN
OVERTIME).
4. EVEN IF TCU WERE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE ALL NORMAL INCOMING
TRAFFIC DURING THE HOURS WHEN C&R IS CLOSED, A GREAT DEAL
OF THAT WHICH IS ARRIVING IN THESE DAYS IS NODIS AND REQUIRES
THE PRESENCE OF C&R PERSONNEL.
5. THE EMBASSY OF COURSE WILL OBSERVE WORKLOAD
FLUCTUATIONS CAREFULLY AND KEEP THE BUREAU ADVISED. FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE, HOWEVER, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE TO NEED TWO ADDITIONAL PRSONNEL.
KEATING
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