SANAA EAC MEETING 04/08/2005

S E C R E T SANAA 000883 SIPDIS NOFORN DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2015 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER EAC SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 04/08/2005 REF: A. SANAA 882 ¶B. SANAA 876 ¶C. SANAA 875 ¶D. SANAA 863 ¶E. SANAA 860 ¶F. SANAA 836 Classified By: Classified by RSO Timothy Laas for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: The Charge d' Affaires (CDA) convened a core EAC meeting at 1400 hours, on April 08, 2005, to review posts security profile. Based on the review the EAC decided to adhere to the security measures delineated in the 7 April 2005, EAC reported REFTEL A. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting included: CDA, DAO, FBI, FPD, IPC, OMC, POLE, RSO, RMAS. ¶2. (S/NF) The EAC discussed the mixed intelligence messages regarding the threat and decided it was prudent to continue with security measures outlined in REFTEL A. EAC members noted concerns that this particular threat, if delayed and not diffused, would continue to pre-occupy key mission personnel for the medium term. ¶3. (S/NF) Additionally, the EAC noted added concern for the security profile at post because of guerrilla style grenade attacks against military personnel and vehicles in downtown Sanaa over the past few weeks: Recent reports indicate the likelihood that attacks are related to the ongoing insurrection in Saada. The CDA stated that in his meeting on 7 April 2005 with the Minister of Interior, the Minister seemed to soften on his insistence that previous grenade attacks in Old City Sanaa, were isolated criminal acts. The MOI conceded that attacks may well be related to the fighting in Saada. ¶4. (S/NF) EAC members stated that for the foreseeable future the security situation in Yemen is not likely to improve due to the spill-over of violence from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The EAC believes that for the long term security policies and practices will need to address the realities of extremism in Yemen, speculating that Yemen may rapidly change from a transiting point to an operational theater for extremists. ¶5. (SBU) The EAC decided to reconvene an expanded EAC meeting on Saturday, 9 April 2005, at 1400 hours, to review the security situation and the need for another Town Hall meeting to further inform the broader American Community. Khoury