EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/15/2005

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001541

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/SPC/MSG, DS/DSS/CC, CA/OCS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KMSG AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/15/2005

REF: A. MUSCAT 1532

B. SECSTATE 178699

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c)(g).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on October 15 to review the Embassy's
security posture following the local weekend, and to discuss
security preparations for the upcoming 230th U.S. Marine
Corps Birthday Ball. Noting no substantive changes in the
local security environment since the last meeting, members
agreed to move forward with the ball. Members further 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 October 15, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of
the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture
following the local weekend, and to discuss security
preparations for the 230th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
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, including Duty Officer, cited no security
incidents among their staffs or family members over the
weekend, while CONS confirmed that there were no reported
security incidents or security-related queries from the
private American citizen community.

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USMC Birthday Ball
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3. (C) Pursuant to reftel B, RSO led a review of security
preparations for the 230th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball,
to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Muscat on
November 16. RSO advised that security for the event, which
the EAC concurred was appropriate to hold, will include
extensive uniformed and plain-clothed Royal Oman Police (ROP)
coverage in and around the venue, as well as EOD support and
the enforcement of a no parking zone. Surveillance Detection
Unit assets will also provide support. RSO staff and MSG
personnel will meet with the ROP's Special Task Force and
InterContinental management with increasing frequency as the
ball approaches.

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Other Upcoming Events
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4. (SBU) In conjunction with a review of other upcoming
community events, RSO commented that security coordination
for The American International School of Muscat's Fall
Festival, scheduled for October 26, is underway. RSO noted
that security support for the event, which is expected to
host approximately 450 guests, has been formally requested
from the ROP.

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Sustained Vigilance
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5. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, the Ambassador
and RSO reiterated that 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.

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EAC Conclusion
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6. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting held on October 12 (reftel A). 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. ABM, DCM, P/E, A/MGT, RSO, ARSO, SIMO, PAO, CONS, ECA
(USCENTAF),and Duty Officer participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE