EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/05/2005

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000026

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/OSAC,
DS/OPO/FPD, DS/SPP/EP, DS/PSD/PCB, 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 - 01/05/2005

REF: MUSCAT 0008

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
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 5 to review the Embassy's
security posture prior to the local weekend. 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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Security Environment and Sustained Vigilance
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2. (SBU) On January 5, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of
the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. The
meeting opened with a discussion of the local and regional
security situations; the EAC continued to characterize the
former as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted no new threat
reporting specific to Oman. RSO reiterated, however, 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, including the need to
maintain a low profile and to remain unpredictable. RSO
further re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting
suspicious activity or security-related incidents, especially
those involving suspected surveillance, to Post One.

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Residential Security
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3. (SBU) RSO briefed the EAC on property thefts that
occurred from the yards of two Embassy-leased residences the
evening of January 4. In a scenario not typical for Embassy
neighborhoods, a total of five bicycles were stolen from the
yards of the adjacent residences. While the residences do
meet current security standards, RSO confirmed that he will
re-survey both in an attempt to identify areas that may have
aided the perpetrator(s). RSO is also in the process of
filing reports with the Royal Oman Police and publishing an
Embassy-wide notice urging employees to secure personal
property at their residences. The roving patrol was notified
and responded immediately upon initial report of the
incidents to Post One.

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Emergency Communications
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4. (SBU) A/MGT (IMO) raised the inter-agency meeting held
yesterday to discuss both emergency communications and COMSEC
destruction. The meeting, which focused on ways to best
position each agency's equipment, was in furtherance of the
EAC's previous discussions on lessons learned from the
December 6 terrorist attack on U.S. Consulate General Jeddah,
and in conjunction with the Embassy's annual update to its
Emergency Action Plan.

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Mail Handling and Soft Target Updates
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5. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reminded EAC
members to ensure that their sections are thoroughly familiar
with the Embassy's updated mail handling policy, which took
effect January 5, following the previous day's opening of a
new external mail screening facility. The updated policy
prohibits personnel from introducing into the Chancery
building any unopened mail now distributed at the new
screening facility.


6. (SBU) RSO also provided an update on Soft Target Working
Group-funded upgrades to the Muscat Employee Association's
recreational facility. Specifically, RSO advised that
Engineering Services Office staff began installation earlier
in the week of a SelecTone emergency notification system.

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EAC Conclusion
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7. (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 2 (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, A/DCM, RSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, A/MGT,
S/GSO (Duty Officer),DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF)
participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE