EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/27/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001186 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/DSS/CC, CA/OCS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/27/2005 REF: A. MUSCAT 1167 ¶B. TDX-315/42583-05 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4(c). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 27 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members 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 force protection condition (FPCON) remain appropriate. End Summary. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) On July 27, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core EAC to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC continued to characterize as stable. RMAS went on to lead a discourse on two separate streams of recent Gulf-wide threat reporting and their possible relationship to Oman (reference B). The EAC did not, however, note new specific threat information. -------------- Upcoming Events -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In conjunction with a review of community events, DAO raised the approaching visits of the USAV LTG William B. Bunker to the Port of Salalah on August 5, and the USS Hawes (FFG-53) to Port Sultan Qaboos from August 13-16. Force protection and security for the ship visits is being coordinated directly with the Royal Oman Police (Coast Guard) by DAO and NCIS personnel. -------------- Sustained Vigilance -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated that, despite the relative calm, members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members the need for vigilance regarding all aspects of personal security - to include maintaining a low profile, and remaining unpredictable and situationally aware. RSO further re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) Having carefully considered recent threat reporting, the EAC concluded that there have been no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting, held on July 23 (reftel A),and that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate. Embassy Muscat 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, P/E (Duty Officer),A/MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, PAO, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE