EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/16/2005

1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core
Emergency Action Committee February 16 to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday
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


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2. (SBU) On February 16, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday
weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local
and regional security situations; the EAC continued to
characterize the former as stable. Members of the EAC noted
no new threat reporting specific to Oman.



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Upcoming Events


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3. (SBU) The discussion shifted to upcoming local events,
specifically those being held in conjunction with the Middle
East Air Symposium, scheduled for February 21-23, and The
American International School of Muscat's "Festival of
Choirs," scheduled for February 25. The latter event will
host visiting American school students from India, Qatar, and
the U.A.E. It was further noted that security planning is
underway for approaching Free Trade Agreement negotiations,
scheduled for March 11-14. Security for the aforementioned
events is being fully coordinated with the Royal Oman Police,
who remain responsive to the Embassy's security needs.



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Crisis Management


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4. (SBU) The EAC also used the opportunity to review
valuable "lessons learned" derived from the FSI-sponsored
Crisis Management Training held on February 13 and 14. On a
related note, RSO provided the EAC with updates to ongoing
security upgrade projects, such as the installation of
drop-arms in the approach to the Embassy's vehicle gate, and
creation of an exterior "safe area" in the motorpool.



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Sustained Vigilance


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5. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO asked all
members of the EAC to continue reinforcing to both their
staffs and family members the need for security awareness.
RSO also re-emphasized that all suspicious activity or
security-related incidents, as insignificant as they may
appear, should be reported to Post One immediately.



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EAC Conclusion


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6. (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
February 9 (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, DCM, RSO, ARSO, P/E, RMAS, CONS, MGT,
DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the
meeting, which was followed by a meeting of the Visas Viper
Committee.
BALTIMORE