Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03ABUDHABI1437 | 2003-03-25 12:07:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Abu Dhabi |
null Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:45:28 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: SECRET SIPDIS TELEGRAM March 25, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 1437 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: ASEC, AMGT, PTER, PREL, EAID, PGOV Captions: None Subject: TFIZ01 (EAC): ABU DHABI SITREP NO. 6, MARCH 25 Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ S E C R E T ABU DHABI 01437 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: RSO AMB DCM ADM P/M ECON DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: RALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: POL:STWILLIAMS ECON: TEWILLIAMS RS:JROONEY PAO:KVANDEVATE VZCZCADI611 OO RUEHC RUCNRAQ RUEKJCS RUMICEA RUEKJCS RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #1437/01 0841207 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 251207Z MAR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9072 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 2946 |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001437 |
1. (U) Classified by DCM Richard A. Albright, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). -------------------------- General Overview -------------------------- 2. (U) COM convened Abu Dhabi's Iraq Task Force/core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) at 1000 local time, 3/25. Embassy Abu Dhabi, FCS (located outside of the Embassy compound), and the USGS office in Al Ain are open 3/25 with full staffing. -------------------------- Consular Issues -------------------------- 3. (U) The Consular Section noted an increase in visa services but reported no calls from concerned AMCITs. -------------------------- UAEG Actions/Statements -------------------------- 4. (U) ECON confirmed UAEG approval of the establishment of a World Food Program warehouse in Dubai for humanitarian assistance to Iraq. ECON noted that the UAEG is gearing up for a major humanitarian assistance effort, to be coordinated via the Red Crescent Society. PAO mentioned that Dubai TV and radio are broadcasting a 12-hour fundraiser today to raise charitable donations for humanitarian relief in Iraq. DCM directed ECON to report on the latest developments. (See septel). -------------------------- Security -------------------------- 5. (C) RSO reported that security inspection of American and FSN employees at the Embassy began today without any problems. Inspections will continue on a random, but reoccurring basis. 6. (C) Currently on spring break vacation, the American Community School will reopen on Saturday, March 29. The DCM directed ADMIN and RSO to talk with school officials to assess and recommend a security plan. 7. (C) RSO reported Abu Dhabi police responded to two generic bomb threats within the past few days at the Meridian Hotel and the Ajman College. Police advised the buildings were not evacuated, but were searched with nothing found. 8. (S/NF) ORCA reported an e-mail sent to the police in Dubai threatening to kill U.S., U.K. and Australian citizens if they did not leave Dubai. The threat was not deemed credible. The PAO in Kuwait confirmed to ORCA that Jamail Ishmail, an Abu Dhabi TV correspondent formerly with Al-Jazeera and alleged to be a security threat, is not embedded with U.S. military forces in Iraq nor registered with U.S. press operations in Kuwait. He is believed to be in Karachi. 9. (C) USLO confirmed that U.S. military forces in UAE moved from Force Protection Condition Delta to Charlie on 3/24. -------------------------- Local Media -------------------------- 10. (U) PAO reported 3:1 negative to positive press coverage of the war in the Arabic language press. Except for semi-official Al Ittihad, other major newspapers -- Al Khaleej, Al Bayan and Akhbar Al-Arab -- have taken largely anti-U.S. stances. 11. (U) Abu Dhabi Iraq Task Force/EAC will reconvene at 1000 local time, 3/26. 12. (U) Iraq Task Force/EAC members in attendance included AMB, DCM, RSO, DAO, P/M, POL, ECON, CONS, MSG, OBO, PAO, ADMIN, USLO, FCS, FBI. Wahba |