EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/02/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000361 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 - 03/02/2005 REF: A. MUSCAT 0323 ¶B. SECSTATE 34102 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. Reason: 1.4(c). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 2 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. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) On March 2, 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 characterize as stable. While the EAC noted no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman, RSO did raise recent reporting which indicates that al-Qaida continues seeking to enhance its capabilities to carry out attacks against U.S. interests, including the Homeland (reftel B). -------------- Emergency Preparedness -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Members of the EAC also commented on the success of the unannounced Embassy-wide internal defense/emergency destruction drill held on February 27. The EAC agreed that in an effort to maintain forward momentum, an Embassy-wide fire drill should be conducted in the coming weeks. Although the date of the fire drill will not be announced, RSO confirmed that his office will re-publish evacuation procedures and an updated office warden notice. ¶4. (SBU) On a related note, DCM discussed his recent walk-through of the Embassy's Alternate Command Center (ACC), located at the Marine Security Guard Quarters. Drawing on lessons learned from a recent Crisis Management Exercise, the Embassy will begin "testing" its ACC in conjunction with future Embassy-wide drills. -------------- Sustained Vigilance -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO highlighted reftel B's reminder that the terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida is an enduring one, and that as a result, 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 also reiterated the importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶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 26 (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, MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE