LEBANON: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 003457

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR APHSCT TOWNSEND

REF: A. A. WHITE HOUSE 182323Z OCT 06


B. B. WHITE HOUSE 251853Z OCT 06

C. C. JOINT STAFF 251627Z OCT 06

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Christopher W. Murray. Reason: Sectio
n 1.4 (a).


1. (C) Embassy Beirut grants country clearance and welcomes
the visit of Assistant to the President for Homeland Security
and Counter-Terrorism Frances F. Townsend, Director for
Combating Terrorism Todd M. Hinnen, Aide to APHSCT Michael
Taylor, and Assistant to APHSCT John H. Pearson to Beirut on
November 3, 2006. Control Officer for the visit will be
Edward Messmer. Telephone numbers are as follows: Embassy
961-4-543600, office ext. 432, home ext. 233, and cell phone
961-70-101798.


2. (C) In response to refs A and B, Embassy Beirut has
arranged all transportation and has scheduled meetings with
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Deputy Prime Minister and
Defense Minister Elias Murr, Director General of the Internal
Security Force General Ashraf Rifi, and Minister of the
Interior Ahmad Fatfat. A detailed schedule and scenesetter,
along with biographic material on these officials, will be
sent to your office. We understand from ref C that APHSCT
Townsend will arrive and depart form Beirut International
Airport, and her schedule is limited to the timeframe 0900Z -
1500Z.


3. (U) Action request: Originating office is requested to
forward fiscal data to Embassy Beirut to cover the security
costs of the visit. These costs may include, but are not
limited to, American and FSN overtime, field travel by
Embassy employees, transportation costs for official
vehicles, security costs, and other expenses that are
directly attributable to the visit. Due to the security
environment, visitors should be aware that travel off the
compound will involve several vehicles and security personnel.


4. (U) Action request: Visitors should obtain Lebanese
entry visas before arrival. Please advise post if visitors'
passports have Israeli entry/exit stamps.


5. (U) The agencies of all TDY personnel will be charged
for actual bodyguard services rendered from the date of
arrival at a rate that has been calculated in accordance with
Diplomatic Security Act, 22 U.S.C. 4805 requirements.


6. (U) Security Assessment: Beirut remains a
critical-threat post for terrorism. This rating reflects the
assessment of all foreign affairs agencies at post.
Americans assigned to the Embassy are required to live on the
fortified compound. Travel to certain areas for unofficial
purposes is forbidden; for example, travel is not permitted
to the southern suburbs of Beirut or to Palestinian refugee
camps. No Executive Branch employee may meet in any location
with any officials of designated terrorist groups who may
have representatives in Lebanon. Since early September, all
official visitors may use Beirut International Airport,
however, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has not
assessed the security capabilities of this facility, and no
U.S. carriers are permitted to operate in Lebanon.


7. (U) Weather/dress: Beirut's weather is currently cool,
with a good chance of daily rain showers. Western business
attire is appropriate for all official meetings.


8. (U) More detailed security information will be provided
upon arrival.
MURRAY