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