1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core
Emergency Action Committee December 29 to review the
Embassy's security posture prior 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.



--------------------------


Local Security and Holiday Vigilance


--------------------------





2. (SBU) On December 29, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday
weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local
and regional security situations; the EAC continued to
characterize the former as stable. Likewise, the EAC cited
no new threat reporting specific to Oman or the New Year's
holiday. With respect to the latter, RSO reviewed security
coverage for an Embassy-related New Year's Eve function, and
advised he will confirm that Royal Oman Police Operations is
familiar with local hotel-sponsored events expected to draw
an increased number of Americans, from both the official and
private citizen communities.



3. (C) Members also discussed known facts of the December
24 attempted attack reported by Embassy Sana'a (reftel A).
The Ambassador noted that the incident, while not carried out
by an organized terrorist group, reflects the potential for
other ad hoc-type attacks by individuals, and serves as a
clear reminder of the need for sustained vigilance regarding
personal security practices. Accordingly, the Ambassador
asked members of the EAC to continue reinforcing this
necessity to both their staffs and family members -
particularly during the holiday season, when the mood may
convey a false appearance of complacency.



--------------------------


F-77 Report


--------------------------





4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, CONS distributed
a request for all sections to provide data for the annual
update of Embassy Muscat's F-77 Report of Potential Evacuees.
The completed report will be submitted before the end of
January 2005.



--------------------------


EAC Conclusion


--------------------------





5. (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 26 (reftel B), 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
(P/E), RSO, A/MGT, RMAS, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE