EGYPT FPCON MODIFICATION

S E C R E T CAIRO 009168

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: DECL: 12/01/15
TAGS: ASEC EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT FPCON MODIFICATION

CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION STUART JONES FOR
REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (C).


1. (U) THE USDR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CHIEF OF MISSION,
DIRECTS A CHANGE OF FORCE PROTECTION CONDITION. THE FPCON
FOR THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT IS CHANGED FROM FPCON
CHARLIE TO FPCON BRAVO. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOLLOWING
CHARLIE MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED: CHARLIE 4, CHARLIE 5,
CHARLIE 7, CHARLIE 9, CHARLIE 10, CHARLIE 11, CHARLIE 12,
AND CHARLIE 16. CHARLIE 17 IS IMPLEMENTED FOR THE SINAI
REGION.


2. (S) CURRENT AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION NO LONGER
INDICATES A SPECIFIC TERRORIST THREAT AGAINST US PERSONNEL
IN EGYPT WHICH WOULD WARRANT FPCON CHARLIE. WHILE REGIONAL
EVENTS IN IRAQ AND JORDAN ARE OF A CONCERN, THERE IS NO
EXTENT THREAT STREAM AGAINST US PERSONNEL OR FACILITIES IN
EGYPT. HOST NATION SECURITY SERVICES HAVE SHARED
INFORMATION ON THE 23 JULY BOMBINGS IN SHARM EL SHEIKH AND
CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE SECURITY OPERATIONS ON THE SINAI
PENINSULA TO DISRUPT TERRORIST CELL OPERATIONS. WHILE HOST
NATION SECURITY SERVICES REPORT THEY HAVE APPREHENDED OR
KILLED MOST OF THE OPERATIVES WHO CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK,
THEIR INVESTIGATION CONTINUES WITH RESPECT TO THE BASE OF
SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE. VISIBLE SECURITY
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INCREASED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,
ESPECIALLY AT TOURIST DESTINATIONS. WHILE THE POSSIBILITY
EXISTS FOR AMERICANS TO BE TARGETED IN FUTURE ATTACKS
AGAINST EGYPTIAN TOURIST RESORTS, THERE IS NO CREDIBLE
REPORTING TO SUGGEST AMERICAN PERSONNEL ACTIVELY BEING
TARGETED. US INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WORKING AS A LIAISON
WITH HOST NATION SERVICES MAINTAIN A CLOSE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF MILITARY COOPERATION-EGYPT
AND, IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE RSO, DAO, AND ORA, AGREE THAT
CURRENT CONDITIONS DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO MAINTAIN
FPCON CHARLIE. THE CHANGE OF FPCON DOES NOT AFFECT THE
CURRENT STATE DEPARTMENT RATINGS FOR EGYPT AS SET FORTH IN
THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT THREAT LIST.


3. (U) FOR THE ABOVE REASONS I CONSIDER THAT FPCON BRAVO IS
APPROPRIATE AND IN HARMONY WITH CURRENT STATE DEPARTMENT
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EGYPT.


4. (U) THE POINT OF CONTACT IS COL JEFFREY VORDERMARK,
OMC/DC OR CAPT JASON STEELMAN, OMC/FP, COMMERCIAL 011-2-02-
797-3477, OR DSN 312-725-1440 EXT 3477. IF CONTACT IS
NEEDED AFTER HOURS CONTACT MAY BE MADE THROUGH THE EMBASSY
OPERATOR AT COMMERCIAL 011-2-02-797-3300 OR DSN 312-725-

1440.

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