EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/23/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000321

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC,
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 - 02/23/2005

REF: A. MUSCAT 0293

B. MUSCAT 0280

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 core
Emergency Action Committee February 23 to review the
Embassy's security posture prior to 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 FPCON remain appropriate. End Summary.

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Security Environment
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2. (SBU) On February 23, 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 security
situation, which the EAC continued to view as stable. The
EAC noted no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman.

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MEAS
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3. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, both the
Ambassador and RSO commented on the formidable security put
into place by the Royal Oman Police for the Middle East Air
Symposium ("MEAS"),which included high-level U.S. military
participation. The MEAS, underway at the Grand Hyatt Muscat,
is scheduled to culminate on January 23. (reftel B)

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EAC Conclusion
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4. (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 20 (reftel A),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. ABM, DCM,
MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting, which preceded a
meeting of the Visas Viper Committee.
BALTIMORE