EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/17/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001404

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, AND 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 - 09/17/2005

REF: MUSCAT 1396

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission 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 Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on September 17 to review the
Embassy's security posture following 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.

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Local Security Situation
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2. (SBU) On September 17, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture
following the local weekend. The meeting opened with a
discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC
continued to characterize as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted
no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman. Members cited
no security incidents among their staffs or family members
over the weekend, while CONS (Duty Officer) confirmed that
there were no reported security incidents or security-related
queries from the private American citizen community. A/RSO
cited a possible surveillance incident that occurred over the
weekend (SIMAS event #76926),but noted that the vagueness of
the report prohibited any investigation from being initiated.

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Emergency Preparedness
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3. (SBU) In reviewing the Embassy's emergency preparedness,
A/RSO discussed the Embassy-wide bomb drill that was
conducted on September 14. Members agreed that the drill was
a success, with many lessons learned among all sections.
Communication issues and operational concerns were the topics
most discussed. All questions raised were answered
accordingly, and the EAC agreed that the drill benefited
everyone involved.


4. (SBU) A/RSO further discussed the meeting held on
September 14 of all first responders. A/RSO noted that all
members of the chem/bio first response team were prepared
with the applicable react gear, and that all members of the
team were reminded of their duties in an actual emergency. A
walk-through was conducted of the clearly marked
decontamination sites, located at the front and rear of the
compound.

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EAC Conclusion
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5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting held on September 14 (reftel). Accordingly,
members agreed 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, DCM, P/E, MGT, A/RSO, SIMO, CONS (Duty Officer),
MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the
meeting.
BALTIMORE