DJIBOUTI: TRIP WIRES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 DJIBOUTI 000061

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/AF, AF/E, AF/EX
NAIROBI FOR COM AND RSO
ADDIS ABABA FOR COM AND RSO
AMSARA FOR COM AND RSO
CJTF HOA FOR COMMAND STAFF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2014
TAGS: ASEC AEMR CASC
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: TRIP WIRES


Classified By: RSO Marc Ramos for Reason 1.5 (D) AND (G)


1. (C) Post held an executive meeting of the Emergency Action
Committee on 01/10/2004 to discuss recent threat activity in
the region and what measures to take in response to a
particular threat. The executive EAC was composed of the
Charge' d'Affaires, RSO, COS, USLO and Consular Officer.


2. (C) The EAC discussed potential threats as outlined in
recent intelligence reports. RSO and COS continue to work
closely with Host Nation and US Military counterparts to
mitigate any threat, but the EAC does not feel at this time
that an increase in security services is needed. US Military
personnel continue to take appropriate measures in accordance
with their standard operating procedures.


3. (C) In light of recent intelligence, the EAC reviewed
current Trip Wires for Post and updated them accordingly.
Due to Post's small size and its unique situation, (having a
US Military base less than a 10 minute drive from the
Embassy) the EAC adjusted the levels and actions taking into
consideration the ability of the US Military to assist in a
crisis situation. Listed below is a break down of levels and
actions that Post will use as a guide to respond to an
emergency situation. This model has been taken from the Trip
Wires Guidance published by the Office of Crisis Management
Support and has been modified to fit Post needs.

LEVEL ONE SITUATION ) A noticeable change in the country
situation has been brought to the attention of the EAC.
Level One changes would be on the order of those described
below, although not limited to those listed.

- Sporadic incidences of student/social unrest focused at
US facilities and personnel
- Increased threat reporting against U.S. and/or Western
government facilities and or frequented soft targets
- Increased surveillance of Embassy housing or personnel
- Volcano lava flows seen regularly with puffs of smoke
from crater
- Increase, frequency and magnitude of seismic activity
- Significant increase in crime
- Hyper-inflation or International Loan payment defaults
- Regional fighting in the region creates large refugee
flow (Eritrea/Ethiopia conflict)

LEVEL ONE ACTIONS - Post has experienced Level I situations
since the spring of 2002. Post has held various EAC meetings
to assess developments, discuss draw down options, and
recommend actions to post and the Department. Post has
upgraded security measures and has taken, and/or will take as
needed, the following steps to mitigate the threat:

- Meet with host government officials and contacts to
gather information, express concern, request additional
security, and plan for emergency assistance, as appropriate
- Review personnel security arrangements at the office,
in transit, and at home
- Review upcoming events with employees and family members
- Offer use of voluntary Separate Maintenance Allowance
or R&R/Home Leave orders for family members
- Review F-77 Report of Potential Evacuees for accuracy
- Request clearance from CA/OCS for EAC-approved language
for Warden Message or Public Announcement to describe current
situation to the public
- Encourage Embassy registration for Amcits
- Conduct post-driven Crisis Management Exercise
- Review & Update Emergency Action Plan and checklists

LEVEL TWO SITUATION ) Problems in the country have become
chronic or permanent, or the host country has difficulty
managing the situation. Level Two changes in situation would
be on the order of those described below, although not
limited to those listed. (A confluence or combination of
specific events would be a precursor to requesting authorized
departure)

- Protesters periodically block main roads,
demonstrations are frequent and large
- Violent rhetoric increasingly directed toward
international community
- Western interests (businesses, schools, cultural
centers) threatened or attacked
- Seismic activity leaves residences uninhabitable
- Sporadic incidents of looting, growing criminal activity
- Stores close due to lack of stock, lack of cash
- Indications of a negative change in Host Nation support
for the Global War on Terrorism

LEVEL TWO ACTIONS - Post has held various EAC meetings to
assess developments, discuss draw down options, and recommend
actions to post and the Department. Post has upgraded
security measures and has taken, and/or will take as needed,
the following steps to mitigate the threat:
- Meet with host government officials and contacts to
gather information, express concern, request additional
security, plan for emergency assistance, as appropriate.
Determine the willingness and ability of host government to
assist with securing personnel and facilities
- Consider reducing Embassy operating hours and services
or temporarily close to the public, except for emergency
American citizen services
- Review Mission staffing patterns; identify emergency
personnel and position
- Review F-77 Report of Potential Evacuees, update if
necessary
- Review online Evacuation Manual templates for
processing personnel in case of Authorized Departure
- Submit EAC language to Department for clearance of a
Public Announcement or Travel Warning to advise the public of
current situation or any change in status
- Test Warden systems (official and private Amcit
networks)
- Hold periodic town meetings with American community;
encourage Embassy registration for Amcits
- Test alternate command center & radio networks
- Review evacuation routes and transportation options,
verify commercial air schedules
- Review with Consular and Management Officers the papers
needed to document U.S. employees and family members and to
return to the U.S. or alternate safe haven
- Consider cancellation of large scale social functions
and group activities
- Consider travel restrictions for U.S. government
employees and limit TDY visits to case by case basis with an
emphasis on the needs of the Mission
- Review security for USG personnel and facilities;
Enhance security posture with increased local guard and
Police presence, roving patrols and Surveillance Detection
Teams
- Review & Update Emergency Action Plan and checklists
- Review burn time and drill on SOP,s
- Begin contingency planning with US Military in country

LEVEL THREE SITUATION ) Changes in the country situation are
widespread, permanent, target U.S. citizens or U.S.
interests. The host country is unwilling or unable to manage
basic services and security needs. Post requests authorized
departure for unessential personnel and dependents. Level
Three changes in situation would be on the order of those
described below, although not limited to those listed. (A
confluence or combination of specific events would be a
precursor to requesting ordered departure)

- Police unwilling or unable to prevent large scale
violent demonstrations
- Protesters target U.S. Embassy, American community
and/or American businesses
- Marked decrease in availability of commercial air
traffic
- Terrorist attacks against U.S. or other targets
attempted/thwarted
- Western diplomat attacked or assassinated
- Access to American Embassy compound temporarily blocked
by protests
- Infectious disease epidemic
- Impact of disaster on capital city includes depleted or
interrupted supplies of gasoline, water, food, utility
services
- Country infrastructure unable to handle clean-up and
repair of services
- Crime causes restriction in travel at night or in
certain areas
- Severe shortage of basic necessities (food, water,
fuel, power)
- Police cannot prevent massive looting, including in
diplomatic residential area

LEVEL THREE ACTIONS ) Post will hold an EAC meeting to
assess developments, discuss draw down options, and recommend
actions to post and the Department. Post leadership will
request Authorized Departure for Eligible Family Members and
non-emergency personnel. Post will consider a recommendation
to the Department for Ordered Departure. Possible EAC
recommendations at Level Three are listed below.

- Meet with host government officials and contacts to
gather information, express concern, request additional
security, plan for emergency assistance, as appropriate.
Determine the willingness and ability of host government to
assist with securing personnel and facilities
- Consider reduced Embassy operating hours and services
or temporarily close to the public, except for emergency
American citizen services
- Review Mission staffing patterns; identify emergency
personnel and positions
- Review F-77 Report of Potential Evacuees, update if
necessary
- Review with Consular and Management Officers the papers
needed to document U.S. employees and family members and to
return to the U.S. or alternate safe haven
- Review online Evacuation Manual templates for
processing personnel for Authorized Departure and in case of
Ordered Departure of non-emergency personnel and all EFM,s
- Submit EAC language to Department for clearance of a
Travel Warning to advise the public of current situation
and/or if post status changes
- Develop Press Guidance for host country media and for
Department to use, specific to post situation
- Test Warden systems (official and private Amcit
networks)
- Hold periodic town meetings with American community,
continue to register Amcits
- Test alternate command center & radio networks
- Review evacuation routes and transportation options,
verify commercial air schedules
- Cancel social functions and group activities
- Institute travel restrictions for remaining U.S.
government employees
- Provide security escorts for personnel
- RSO reviews residential housing patterns; possibly
consolidates official residences
- Curtail TDY visits
- Review security for all USG personnel and facilities;
Enhance security posture with increased local guard presence,
roving patrols and Surveillance Detection Teams
- Request security assistance from regional USMC FAST
detachment out of Bahrain
- Put into effect Emergency Action Plan

LEVEL FOUR SITUATION ) Changes in the country situation are
widespread, permanent, and target U.S. citizens or U.S.
interests. The host country is unwilling or unable to manage
basic services and security needs. Post and the Department
concur about reducing the number of USG personnel. Posts
recommends ordered departure. Level Four changes in
situation would be on the order of those described below,
although not limited to those listed.

- Large city under rebel control
- Security forces unwilling/unable to control violent
demonstrations
- Successful and violent attacks on Government; Any sign
of bombings is a problem near Mission facilities
- Anti-U.S. rhetoric widespread, U.S. blamed for problems
in host country
- Authorities unresponsive or unavailable to respond to
Embassy requests for assistance
- Attacks directly target U.S. Embassy compound
- Airports close; Key international airlines stop
providing service
- French medical resources overwhelmed or non-existent
- French Military and Ex-Pat community draws down due to
current situation

LEVEL FOUR ACTIONS ) Post will hold an EAC meeting to assess
developments, discuss draw down options, and recommend
actions to post and the Department. Post will recommend
Ordered Departure and a relocation of essential staff to US
Military base. Possible EAC recommendations at Level Four
are listed below.

- Meet with host government officials and contacts to
gather information, express concern, request additional
security, plan for emergency assistance, as appropriate.
Determine the willingness and ability of host government to
assist with securing personnel and facilities
- Reduce Embassy operating hours and services or
temporarily close to the public, except for emergency
American citizen services
- Review Mission staffing patterns, identify core
emergency personnel/positions
- Review F-77 Report of Potential Evacuees, update if
necessary
- Review with Consular and Management Officers the papers
needed to document U.S. employees and family members and to
return to the US or alternate safe haven
- Consult with M/FLO for services to evacuated personnel,
employment, schools, housing, etc.
- Review online Evacuation Manual templates for
processing personnel for Ordered Departure
- Submit EAC language to Department for clearance of a
Travel Warning to advise the public of current situation
and/or if post status changes
- Draft Press Guidance for local media and submit to
Department for post-specific language about the evacuation
- Test Warden systems (official and private Amcit
networks)
- Hold periodic town meetings with American community,
continue to register Amcits
- Establish alternate command center & radio networks
- Review evacuation routes and transportation options,
verify commercial air schedules, maintain close touch with
commercial carriers
- Continue to review options for air charter and ground
transportation
- Cancel social functions and group activities
- Travel restrictions for remaining U.S. government
employees
- Provide security escorts for personnel
- RSO reviews residential housing patterns. Consolidate
staff residences or consider moving all personnel onto the
Embassy compound or US Military base.
- Curtail TDY visitors
- Review security for USG personnel and facilities;
Enhance security posture with US Military assistance
- Put into effect Emergency Action Plan and checklists

LEVEL FIVE SITUATION ) Post suspends operations due to
full-scale war or other catastrophic event. Due to Post size
and the presence of US Military Forces in country, Post, in
consultation with the Department, will consider maintaining
minimal operations from US Military base dependant upon the
type and size of the catastrophic event.


4. (U) POC is RSO Marc Ramos at 253-35-39-95 ext.2307 or
RamosMA@State.SGOV.GOV
SMITH