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). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶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. -------------- Unsubstantiated Threat Information: Update -------------- ¶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) -------------- Crisis Management Exercise -------------- ¶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. -------------- Continued Vigilance -------------- ¶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. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶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