TFIZ01 (EAC): ABU DHABI SITREP NO. 7, MARCH 26

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, Wednesday
3/26. Embassy Abu Dhabi, FCS (located outside of the Embassy
compound), and the USGS office in Al Ain are open 3/26 with full
staffing.



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Consular Issues


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3. (U) The consular section is open for visa services and
American Citizen Services. The American community remains calm;
CONS has not received calls from worried AMCITs.



4. (C) CONS proposed and Task Force approved, issuance of a
warden update to alert Americans in the UAE that there have been
minor disruptions in air traffic in and out of the UAE. The
message, in an effort to counteract rumors, also informs that
there have been no hostile actions against Americans or U.S.
interests in the UAE. The message urges Americans to remain
vigilant.



5. (U) American business community contacts continue to report
that private American citizens and U.S. companies located here
have not departed the UAE on a large scale. RSO reported that
the Abu Dhabi Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
continues to meet on a daily basis.



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DUBAI TELETHON RAISES $13 MILLION FOR IRAQI HUMANITARIAN RELIEF


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6. (SBU) ECON noted that the 12-hour telethon conducted
yesterday on Dubai TV and radio raised DHS 49 million ($13.3
million) for humanitarian relief in Iraq. Sponsored by Dubai
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum's Charitable and
Humanitarian Foundation, the telethon featured appearances by
local and Arab notables, including outspoken Dubai Police Chief
General Dhahi Khalfan, who sharply criticized coalition military
actions in Iraq and called on the American and British
Ambassadors to the UAE to "honestly report to their governments
the strong anti-war sentiments of the public." Also making
appearances were an Iraqi Sunni cleric, Shaykh Ahmed Al-Qubaisi,
and "Raghda," a Syrian actress well-known for her close ties to
the Iraqi regime (many in the Iraqi expat community here claim
she is one of several Arab entertainers on Saddam's payroll).
Al-Qubaisi called on Arabs to rise up against the
American/British "ijtiyah" (invasion) and at one point,
collapsed into tears, predicting that the U.S. is "redrawing the
map of the Arab world with Iraqi blood." (Comment: This
telethon, like the emotionally-charged one held in April 2002
during the Israeli incursion into Jenin, is seen by the
leadership as an effective tool for containing public anger and
frustration. End Comment.)



7. (C) ECON also reported that hawala remittances to Iraq from
UAE residents had stopped due to difficulties in transferring
money since the onset of hostilities.





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Security


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8. (C) Currently on spring break vacation, the American
Community School will resume classes on Saturday 3/29. The RSO
reported that the buses used for ferrying Embassy children will
not be used for four days after class resumption as a
precautionary measure. On the fifth day, the buses will be
used, but will be switched on a regular basis to alter busing
patterns.



9. (C) RSO reported that on 3/25, two journalists from the
country of Georgia were questioned by local police after they
attempted to photograph the Embassy compound. The RSO informed
the journalists that photographs of the Embassy were not
permitted and referred them to the UAE Ministry of Information.


10. (S/NF) ORCA reported that there continue to be reports of a
possible chemical attack on Americans or U.S. interests
worldwide. Although reporting specific to the Gulf continues,
there have been no threat reports specific to the UAE.



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Local Media


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11. (U) PAO reported that Abu Dhabi TV will feature a live
interview with Secretary Powell this evening conducted by
correspondents from Abu Dhabi TV, Al-Jazeera and Egyptian
Satellite TV.



12. (C) PAO indicated that, with the exception of Abu Dhabi
government-owned Al-Ittihad, the local Arabic papers are not
balanced in their reporting on the war. PAO will engage with
the press to encourage more balanced coverage.



13. (U) Abu Dhabi Iraq Task Force/EAC will reconvene at
1000 local time, Saturday 3/29.



14. (U) Iraq Task Force/EAC members in attendance included
AMB, DCM, RSO, DAO, P/M, POL, ECON, CONS, MSG, PAO,
ADMIN, and USLO.

WAHBA