EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - JEDDAH 07/26/2005

S E C R E T JEDDAH 002537 SIPDIS DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/ITA/NEA, NEA/EX, NEA/ARP, CA/OCS/NEASA, M E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 TAGS: ASEC AMGT PTER SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE - JEDDAH 07/26/2005 Classified By: Carol Kalin, Acting Consul General Jeddah Reason 1.4 (g) ¶1. (S) The Acting Consul General convened the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 26, 2005 to discuss the current security situation in Jeddah. The A/CG, BPM, ARSO, MGT, MSG and CONS were in attendance. ¶2. (S) The EAC reviewed the warden message sent out on July 26 and current threat information. The EAC noted that reporting continues of a non-specific threat and that current information is viewed as highly credible. The EAC also discussed the current restriction on leisure travel by USMTM and OPM/SANG. The EAC noted that due to the lack of armored vehicles for OPM/SANG and USMTM, this restriction places them more in line with current Consulate policy of travel only by armored vehicle. ¶3. (S) The EAC reviewed vulnerabilities that could be targeted at the Consulate compound. The EAC discussed concerns over an "Iraq style" attack on visa lines outside of the compound. The A/CG and CONS reviewed current visa procedures and noted that due to the end of summer travel season the number of persons in the visa line outside of the Consulate compound has diminished. The EAC noted that a review of the current procedures will continue to determine if other options can be put in place that would provide increased security and manageability of applicants. The A/CG will widely disseminate the current warden message to all Consulate employees to make them aware of the current threat status. The EAC agreed that the current force protection level of Charlie plus will remain unless more specific threat information is obtained. The EAC will continue to monitor the security situation in and around Jeddah.