THE GAMBIA: EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000778 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR AF/W, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, INR; DAKAR PLS PASS RAO E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2016 TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV PHUM CASC KAWC KJUS IZ GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN REF: STATE 203664 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (C AND D) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel, Ambassador convened EAC meeting December 29 to review the security posture of the Embassy and the private Amcit community in light of the anticipated execution of Saddam Hussein. EAC members agreed that Hussein's execution was not/not likely to generate much interest in The Gambia, where Iraqi and other Mideast issues generally have received minimal attention from the public. The tiny Lebanese-origin community can be expected to follow Mideast developments with greater interest than the populace in general, but that community remains peaceful and has not reacted to past controversial Mideast events by staging anti-U.S. activities. ¶2. (C) Hence, there was consensus among EAC members that Hussein's execution was not likely to generate threats to U.S. interests here or otherwise have a significant impact on the currently low threat environment in The Gambia. EAC members further agreed that the current security posture of the Embassy and private Amcit community remained appropriate and that there was no need for issuance of a warden message. ¶3. (C) However, EAC members concurred that continued close monitoring of the local security environment was imperative with a view to adjusting the security posture as required. STAFFORD