EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/18/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000110

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC,
CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1
TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/18/2005

REF: MUSCAT 0084

Classified By: DCM William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core
Emergency Action Committee January 18 to review the Embassy's
security posture prior to the Eid al Adha holiday. Members
of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security
environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC
agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture
and FPCON remain appropriate. End Summary.


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Local Security and Holiday Vigilance
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2. (S/NF) On January 18, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to the Eid al Adha holiday.
The meeting opened with a discussion of the local and
regional security situations; the EAC continued to
characterize the former as stable, noting no new threat
reporting specific to Oman or the Eid holiday. RMAS
corroborated rumors circulating on local internet discussion
sites that the Omani security apparatus recently arrested a
group of Ibadi (the majority Islamic sect in Oman)
extremists. RMAS explained that the extremists were
identified as being members of a secret religious
organization - strictly prohibited in Oman. RMAS further
explained that the organization has no/no apparent links to
terrorism, domestic or international, and maintains no/no
apparent anti-American/Western agenda. It is noted that the
arrests reflect the Omani government's firm commitment to
combating extremism.


3. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated
that members of the EAC must continue reinforcing the need
for sustained vigilance regarding all aspects of personal
security. RSO asked members of the EAC to convey this
necessity to both their staffs and family members -
particularly during the Eid holiday, when it is common for
large groups of adolescents to congregate at public venues,
some of which are frequented by Embassy personnel.
Likewise, RSO re-emphasized the importance of immediately
reporting all suspicious activity or security-related
incidents to Post One.

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EAC Conclusion
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4. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the
local security environment since the last meeting held on
January 16 (reftel),and that the Embassy's FPCON and already
heightened security posture remain appropriate. Nonetheless,
the EAC remains acutely aware of the need to monitor both the
regional and local security and threat environments, and is
prepared to take the necessary countermeasures should changes
to either occur. AMB, DCM, RSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, MGT, OMC
(USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE