REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL GUARDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001005

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/OPO/FPD, AF/EX

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2030
TAGS: ASEC AFIN DJ
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR REINSTATEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL GUARDS

REF: A:DJIBOUTI 996 B:DJIBOUTI 983

Classified By: DCM David Ball, reasons 1.4 (b),(d),and (g).


1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT.


2. (C) AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2005, POST HAS REMOVED RESIDENTIAL
GUARDS UNDER MANDATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BASED ON
BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS. THE REMOVAL OF POST'S RESIDENTIAL
GUARD PROTECTION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL SECURITY
REALITIES, WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE VULNERABILITY OF
EMBASSY EMPLOYEES OF ALL AGENCIES TO CRIMINAL AND TERRORIST
ACTIVITY. POST UNDERSTANDS THAT RESIDENTIAL GUARDS ARE BASED
ON SETL'S CRIME RATING, BUT RESIDENTIAL GUARDS IN DJIBOUTI
ARE A DETERRENT TO TERRORIST ATTACKS AS WELL AS CRIMINAL
ATTACKS. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DETERRENT IS HIGHLIGHTED BY
THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF DJIBOUTI TO SOMALIA AND RECENT THREAT
REPORTING (SEE REF A).


3. (C) RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IN DJIBOUTI NOW IMMEDIATELY STANDS
OUT FROM NEIGHBORING HOUSES BECAUSE U.S. EMBASSY RESIDENCES
ARE THE ONLY RESIDENCES WITHOUT GUARDS. THIS HIGH
VISIBILITY, PLUS EXISTING THREATS IN COUNTRY, MAKES EMPLOYEES
HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO INCREASED CRIME, HOSTILE SURVEILLANCE,
AND TERRORIST ATTACK. EMPLOYEES CANNOT ADEQUATELY SCAN THE
EXTERIOR OF THEIR COMPOUNDS FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY PRIOR TO
DEPARTURE OR ARRIVAL. THERE IS CONSTANT PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC,
THE PERSISTENCE OF "SQUATTERS", AND THE PRESENCE OF LOCAL
VENDORS THAT MAKE IMPOSSIBLE THE EMPLOYEE'S ABILITY TO JUDGE
ADEQUATELY THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE HIS OR HER
RESIDENCE. EMPLOYEES HAVE NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF THE
INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS SURROUNDING THEM ON ARRIVAL AND
DEPARTURE FROM THE RESIDENCE ARE HARMLESS OR HAVE CRIMINAL OR
TERRORIST INTENT. SUCH A DETERMINATION WAS POSSIBLE WITH
RESIDENTIAL GUARDS USED IN THE PAST.


4. (C) REGARDLESS OF INDIVIDUAL COUNTER-MEASURES TAUGHT TO
AND UTILIZED BY OUR EMPLOYEES, DEPARTURES FROM AND ARRIVALS
TO RESIDENCES WILL RESULT IN A POLICY-IMPOSED CHOKE-POINT,
RATHER THEN A NATURAL CHOKE-POINT, BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEE HAS
TO DEPART AND RETURN TO HIS OR HER RESIDENCE EVERY DAY. IT
IS A KNOWN FACT THAT ONE OF AL-QA'IDA'S TARGETING SELECTION
METHODS INCLUDES WHETHER OR NOT A SELECTED TARGET HAS
SECURITY GUARDS WHEN SELECTING A POSSIBLE TARGET. BY
REMOVING OUR RESIDENTIAL GUARDS, U.S. EMBASSY EMPLOYEES ARE
AT A GREATER RISK OF BECOMING POSSIBLE TERRORIST TARGETS OR
VICTIMS OF CRIME. OVER THE PAST YEAR DJIBOUTI HAS SEEN AN
INCREASE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTED BY THE RECENT
BREAK-IN OF AN EMBASSY EMPLOYEE'S VEHICLE (SEE REF B).
ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT OTHER AGENCIES (ORA HAS ALREADY
RECEIVED APPROVAL) WILL FUND THEIR OWN RESIDENTIAL SECURITY
GUARDS THUS AFFECTING THE MORALE OF STATE EMPLOYEES WHO WILL
NOT HAVE GUARDS.


5. (C) POST WOULD THEREFORE REQUEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT
RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO CUT RESIDENTIAL GUARDS AND ALLOW
POST TO REINSTATE THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE CONTACT RSO GARY STONER AT
(253) 35 39 95 OR VIA CLASS EMAIL AT STONERGM@STATE.SGOV.GOV.
REGARDS.
RAGSDALE