EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/19/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000476

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 - 03/19/2005

REF: MUSCAT 0467

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 Emergency
Action Committee March 19 to review the Embassy's security
posture following 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 Situation
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2. (SBU) On March 19, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of
the full Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the
Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. The
meeting opened with a discussion of the local security
situation, which the EAC continued to characterize as stable.
Likewise, the EAC noted no/no new threat reporting specific
to Oman. Members cited no security incidents among their
staffs or family members over the weekend, while CONS
confirmed that there were no reported security incidents or
security-related queries from the private American citizen
community.

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Upcoming Events
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3. (S) The EAC briefly reviewed the preliminary details
regarding the upcoming visit of General John Abizaid,
currently scheduled for March 29-30. RSO will coordinate
protection for this visit through the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

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Sustained Vigilance
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4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated
that, despite the relative calm, 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 further re-emphasized the importance of
immediately reporting all suspicious activity or
security-related incidents to Post One.

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EAC Conclusion
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5. (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
March 16 (reftel). 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,
A/MGT, A/RSO, RMAS, PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE