SANAA EAC MEETING 08/11/2004

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001966 SIPDIS NOFORN DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER EAC SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 08/11/2004 Classified By: Acting RSO Paul O'Keefe, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Begin Summary: The CDA convened an EAC meeting on August 11, 2004, to share security concerns with regard to recent incidents in the Al-Jawf region and to remind the Embassy community to remain vigilant in light of recent threat reporting and to report all security related incidents immediately to the RSO. EAC members noted no specific threats against Embassy Sanaa The American community continues to remain in a high state of security awareness even in the absence of specific threat against Americans or the Embassy. Key offices and personnel represented included: FPD, OMC, ORCA, POL/ECON ,HU, CCE-Yemen, and RSO. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) CDA referred EAC members to recent incidents in the Al-Jawf region. On July 28th, 2004, members of ADRA (USAID contractors) traveling in the Al-Jawf region were stopped in what appeared to be an attempted car-jacking and forced to return to their point of origin. The following day on July 29, 2004, ADRA members were fired upon while attempting to enter the same region. No injuries were incurred. ¶3. (C/NF) FPD discussed two Aug 7, 2004 incidents while traveling in the Al-Jawf region. During a refueling stop a large crowd gathered around an FPD motorcade and several local villagers began chanting "the Americans are here, it is a good day to die." FPD and CCE members left the area immediately. Several hours later while approaching a school, the FPD motorcade was fired upon by a burst of three rounds believed to be from an AK-47. FPD and CCE members were subsequently informed by a local Sheikh the shots were meant as a warning to deter travelers from entering the area. ¶4. (C) CDA emphasized that any incidents regarding security regardless of how insignificant it may seem at the time should be reported to the RSO in order to analyze trends in regard to both terrorism related matters and incidents relating to crime. CDA added that creating a threat composite would also give the community a better understanding of the threat environment and allow the Embassy to make more informed recommendations to the Department concerning the need to either upgrade, or downgrade Post's security posture. -------------- Post Advisory Actions -------------- ¶6. (C) CDA recommended convening an EAC meeting once a month regardless of any direct threat against the Embassy. RSO was asked track increases or decreases in security incidents and present findings to EAC members. KRAJESKI