SANAA EAC MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2004

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 002559 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/EX, S/CT, CA, DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2014 TAGS: ASEC AMGT PREL PTER EAC SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING - OCTOBER 2, 2004 REF: A. SANAA 2539 ¶B. SANAA 2475 Classified By: RSO Tim Laas, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) Begin summary: The Chief of Mission (COM) convened an EAC meeting on October 3, to assess recent threat information and discuss security-related issues followed by a review of the Emergency Action Plan. EAC members concluded the meeting in agreement that no imminent threat was discernable. Additionally, the COM called for a town meeting to review community security concerns and directed the RSO to raise awareness among Employees regarding the security environment following an increase in regional chatter indicating attack planning. Also, on the agenda was potential fallout from fighting between Republic Of Yemen Government forces and a Shiite strongman in Sa'da, as well as the verdicts in the "Gang of Fifteen" and "USS Cole" trials in Sanaa. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting included: COM, DCM, POL/ECON, CONS, MO, PD, RSO, POL/MIL, SOC YEMEN, AND LEGAT and IMO. End summary. ¶2. (C) The EAC began with a review of the overall threat environment noting the potential for serious security incidents following a series of major events in Yemen and the region to include the end of several weeks fighting between ROYG forces and a Shiite rebel Al-Huthi, who was killed in combat, as well as the handing down of severe sentences to USS Cole trial defendants. Numerous events raise the spectrum of retribution by family or friends of victims and defendants although no imminent threats are now known. ¶3. (SBU) The DCM pointed to media coverage of angry reactions to the Cole verdict by family members of the convicts and the EAC discussed increased chatter within the region that indicates the potential for a series of soft target attacks against westerners and local government officials cooperating with the United States Government in the war on terrorism. The EAC noted already high and appropriate levels of security from RSO assets. ¶4. (SBU) PER REFTEL, RSO advised the EAC of one incident, cable Sanaa 2539, whereby the Surveillance Detection Team identified a man filming the Hadah residential compound (where many official Americans live) on October 1. No specific recommendations for improving security coverage resulted from the EAC. EAC members agreed that Mission personnel should again be urged to vary their times and routes and avoid a predictable pattern in any other way and the COM directed the Consular officer to arrange a town meeting to review security with the community. The town meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2004. ¶5. (SBU) The EAC discussed the recent degradation of Embassy perimeter security, reftel Sanaa 2475, resulting from ROYG,s unilateral removal of ram resistant barriers. RSO advised EAC members that a diplomatic note went forward requesting ROYG to secure the now open perimeter with barriers. The COM informed the EAC that he discussed the matter with the Minister of Interior during a state sponsored dinner on September 30th, receiving assurances that ROYG would provide a final solution soon regarding perimeter security. EAC members discussed the possible impact that the loss of perimeter security might have on Embassy receptions held behind the Ambassador,s residence and agreed that the propriety of events at that location will depend on ROYG commitment to lock down the street with positive physical security measures to prevent the possible forcing of vehicle born improvised explosive devices VBIEDs. RSO noted a recent DS assessment that the Embassy, EMR and MSG have excellent structural reinforcements but an outdoor reception close to the exterior wall might result in heavy casualties if a VBIED were placed against the wall during an event such as the Marine Ball. ¶6. (SBU) The RSO noted DS funded physical security construction at the Yemen American Language Institute to install a public screening point where by the public could not force their way into YALI past unarmed Embassy guards. Unfortunately, Yemen city planning officials have threatened to arrest contract workers doing the upgrade despite MOI,s acceptance of the work. RSO noted a Thursday, September 30, incident whereby a student failed the exams and returned to the school with angry and armed family members. MOI personnel arrested the aggressive family members and secured the institute with additional armed guards. RSO is working with the MOI to resolve the standoff on the needed security upgrade in the school. ¶7. (SBU) EAC members discussed the recent alleged Al-Qaida tapes released by Al-Jazeera and the DCM requested actual text of the statement to review for Yemen specific references. RSO provided the DCM a Reuter's report that read an audio tape attributed to Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qa'eda's 2nd in command, called on Muslims to organize resistance against "crusader America" and its allies throughout the world. "We should not wait until U.S., British, French, Jewish, South Korean, Hungarian or Polish forces enter Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen and Algeria before we resist," said the tape. ¶8. (SBU) At the conclusion of the EAC, the DCM led a section by section review of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) canvassing the EAC for Emergency Action Committee input. EAC members made numerous recommendations for improvements and reviewed current "trip wires". The DCM directed EAC members to complete their review and EAP updates within 48 hours. KRAJESKI