TFIZ01 (EAC): ABU DHABI SITREP NO. 9, MARCH 29

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 001480 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR IRAQ TASK FORCE, ALSO NEA/ARP, NEA/EX, CA/OCS/NEASA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/NEA, DSERCC, AND M E.O. 12958: DECL 03/29/13 TAGS: ASEC AMGT KHLS PTER PREL EAID PGOV TC SUBJECT: TFIZ01 (EAC): ABU DHABI SITREP NO. 9, MARCH 29 REF: ABU DHABI 1471 AND PREVIOUS B) STATE 79964 ¶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, 3/29. Embassy Abu Dhabi, FCS (located outside of the Embassy compound),and the USGS office in Al Ain are open 3/29 with full staffing. -------------- SECURITY -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) ORCA reported no new developments on the threat posed by the Iraqi Intelligence Services (IIS) outlined in ref B. A four-person Iraqi cell is believed to be in country but the members, who might have entered the country under aliases, have not been located. ¶4. (S/NF) UAE security forces have worked closely with the Embassy to respond to the threats. RSO met with the Abu Dhabi police chief on 3/29. The police have agreed to increase visible uniformed security at several Mission residences as well as increase patrols in the locations of other Embassy residences. The police have also agreed to increase uniformed officers at the American School and the new Embassy compound. ¶5. (S/NF) FBI reported a vague, new threat in the UAE originating from Somalia and targeting official Americans and businesses. The credibility of the threat is currently unclear. ¶6. (S/NF) USLO confirmed that U.S. military forces in the UAE are on Force Protection Condition Delta in response to the IIS security threat. Al-Dhafra airbase reported what are believed to be false positives for bubonic plague on 3/28. The base was alerted to the possible airborne threat by the Portal Shield Device which has been installed for some time. Definitive confirmation is pending the testing of samples sent to Bahrain. The UAEG has not been told of the incident. ¶7. (C) RSO noted there was a large, peaceful demonstration in Dubai on 3/28, but that so far, there have been no demonstrations in Abu Dhabi. -------------- UAEG Actions/Statements -------------- ¶8. (C) The UAEG will be shipping 2000 tons of food to Iraq in the next few days. ECON will meet with the Red Crescent Society on 3/29 to offer assistance in coordinating humanitarian relief programs. -------------- Consular/American Citizen Services -------------- ¶9. (U) The Consular Section received a few phone calls from wardens asking about the Dubai demonstrations. -------------- Local Media -------------- ¶10. (U) PAO reported that Abu Dhabi-controlled media (ADTV and Al Ittihad newspaper) are trying to keep a lid on public opinion by offering more balanced and moderate coverage of the war. Privately owned newspapers continue to carry strident reporting and are selling more copies than Al Ittihad. Al Khaleej newspaper often uses the word "massacre" in major headlines describing Iraqi civilian casualties. ¶11. (U) The Abu Dhabi-based Zayed Center for Coordination and Follow-up, affiliated with the Arab League, published a study reporting that the quest for oil and global domination are the motivations behind this war. ¶12. (U) On Wednesday, 4/2, the Northern Emirate of Sharjah will hold a festival to be attended by the Sharjah ruler's wife in support of the Iraqi people. ¶13. (U) Abu Dhabi Iraq Task Force/EAC will reconvene at 1000 local time, 3/30. ¶14. (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