REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 10/15/2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000162 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS, DS/DSS, DS/ITA/NEA, NEA/EX E.O. 12958: E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/16 TAGS: ASEC PTER AMGT IZ SUBJECT: REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 10/15/2006 REF: A) BASRAH 154 B) BAGHDAD 3559 C) BASRAH 159 CLASSIFIED BY: Bryan T. Bachmann, RSO, REO Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (g) ¶1. (C) The Regional Coordinator (RC) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 15, 2006, to discuss the latest indirect fire (IDF) attacks against the Regional Embassy Office (REO) and the general security situation. Attending the meeting were the Regional Security Officer, Management Officer, Political Officer, Information Processing Officer and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Triple Canopy, Strategic Counter-Intelligence Directorate, and Kellogg Brown and Root. ¶2. (C) Indirect fire (IDF) attacks on Basrah Palace have occurred on an almost daily basis during the past month. The frequency and accuracy of the attacks prompted the EAC to meet to discuss the safety of personnel at post. ¶3. (C) Employees' safety at REO Basrah cannot be guaranteed because of the frequent indirect fire attacks. In the general discussion of security, everyone agreed that they are still able to perform their duties even in light of the REO's reduced staffing level (see Refs A and B). The consensus of the members of the EAC is that if the security situation is viewed without reference to the value of our reporting, then people should be withdrawn from the REO because on the on-going IDF threat. However, if the importance of the USG presence and reporting is considered along with the security threat, EAC members agreed that staffing should stay at its current level. This assessment, of course, could change rapidly if the IDF increases or becomes more accurate. Security at the REO and the safety of REO personnel is assessed on a daily basis in conjunction with Embassy Baghdad. ¶4. (C) EAC members also expressed the strong opinion that effective counter IDF measures are needed to reduce the threat of IDF. Militia members presently operate with impunity in firing rockets and mortars at Basrah Palace; the UK military runs counter IDF operations, but its resources and personnel are limited. Aggressive counter IDF efforts are needed. ¶5. (C) REO Basrah appreciates the concern expressed by Embassy Baghdad and Washington for the safety of its employees. If the current operations of the REO still have value, the EAC believes that the present level of IDF should not force a further reduction in the REO's staffing level. However, without the implementation of strong counter IDF measures, the security situation at REO Basrah will deteriorate and eventually force post to ask that its personnel be evacuated GROSS