EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/31/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001940

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 KSAC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/31/2005

REF: A. MUSCAT 1928

B. MUSCAT 1911

C. SECSTATE 225828

Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael G. Snowden.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on December 31 to review the
Embassy's security posture following the local weekend and
prior to the New Year holiday. Members noted no substantive
changes in the local security environment since the last
meeting (reftel A),and agreed that the Embassy's already
heightened security posture and force protection condition
(FPCON) remain appropriate. End Summary.

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Local Security Environment
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2. (SBU) On December 31, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture
following the local weekend and prior to the New Year
holiday. 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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Holiday Security and Vigilance
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3. (S/NF) RSO again raised reftel C, the Department's
Holiday Security Advisory. Given the general nature of the
threat information in the advisory as it relates to Oman, the
EAC continued to agree that it was not necessary to issue a
warden message outside the scope of the current Worldwide
Caution and Middle East/North Africa Public Announcements --
both of which were recently distributed via warden message to
the official and private American citizen communities (reftel
B). NOTE: RSO does confirm, however, that a formal letter
was sent to the Royal Oman Police highlighting local holiday
religious services, at which increased numbers of American
citizens are expected to gather (reftel B). In addition,
there have been no reported security-related developments
connected with the visit of the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) to
Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat (reftel A). END NOTE.


4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, and referencing
the aforementioned Holiday Security Advisory, RSO took the
opportunity to reiterate 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. RSO further underscored 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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5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting held on December 28 (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. AMB, A/DCM, P/E, MGT, RSO, SIMO,
PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR),ECA (USCENTAF),and Duty
Officer participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE