TFIZ01 (EAC): ABU DHABI SITREP NO. 6, MARCH 25

1. (U) Classified by DCM Richard A. Albright, for reasons
1.5 (B) and (D).



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General Overview


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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.



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Consular Issues


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3. (U) The Consular Section noted an increase in visa
services but reported no calls from concerned AMCITs.







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UAEG Actions/Statements


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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).



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Security


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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.



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Local Media


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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