EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/26/2004

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 002259

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/OSAC,
CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI; DIR FSINFATC FOR FSI/LMS/CMT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1
TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/26/2004

REF: A. MUSCAT 2246


B. TD-314/70393-04

C. FSINFATC 2802

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core
Emergency Action Committee December 26 to review the
Embassy's security posture following to the local holiday
weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in
the local security environment since the last meeting.
Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy's already
heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate.
End Summary.

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Security Environment
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2. (SBU) On December 26, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture following the local holiday
weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local
security situation, which the EAC continued to characterize
as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted no new threat reporting
specific to Oman. Members, including Duty Officer, cited no
security incidents among their staffs or family members over
the weekend, and CONS confirmed that there were no security
incidents or security-related queries from the private
American citizen community.

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Unsubstantiated Threat Information: Update
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3. (S/NF) RMAS provided an update on the unsubstantiated
threat to the American manager of Hunt Oil Company in Oman
(reftel A and B). In short, information alleged that, as of
early October 2004, the oil company received an anonymous
letter in their U.S. office requesting the withdrawal of
their American Manager in Oman, who was in danger (NFI).
RMAS advised that Hunt Oil's U.S. office claimed not/not to
be familiar with such allegations. RMAS added that tearline
will be passed to the Regional Security Office in Sana'a,
Yemen, where Hunt Oil's regional security manager is
resident. (NFI)

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Crisis Management Exercise
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4. (SBU) The EAC also discussed reftel C, regarding Embassy
Muscat's upcoming Crisis Management Exercise, scheduled for
February 13-14, 2004. A response to the action request,
based on the EAC's discussion, will be sent to FSI/LMS/CMT
via septel.

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Continued Vigilance
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5. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated
that members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both
their staffs and family members the need for vigilance
regarding all aspects of personal security, including the
need to maintain a low profile and to remain unpredictable.
Likewise, RSO re-emphasized the importance of immediately
reporting suspicious activity or security-related incidents,
especially those involving suspected surveillance, to Post
One.

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EAC Conclusion
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6. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the
local security environment since the last meeting held on
December 22 (reftel A),and that the Embassy's FPCON and
already heightened security posture remain appropriate.
Nonetheless, the EAC remains acutely aware of the need to
monitor both the regional and local security and threat
environments, and is prepared to take the necessary
countermeasures should changes to either occur. AMB, A/DCM,
RSO (Duty Officer),A/MGT, RMAS, P/E, PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO,
OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE