Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT3518
2006-08-30 07:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR IRAQ STUDY

Tags:  OTRA OVIP PREL KU COUNTRY CLEARANCE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #3518/01 2420724
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300724Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6500
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0671
UNCLAS KUWAIT 003518 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA S/I SANFORD AND NEA/ARP JACKSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA OVIP PREL KU COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR IRAQ STUDY
GROUP

REF: STATE 135431

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003518

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA S/I SANFORD AND NEA/ARP JACKSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA OVIP PREL KU COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR IRAQ STUDY
GROUP

REF: STATE 135431


1. (SBU) Embassy Kuwait welcomes and grants country
clearance for the 16-member Iraq Study Group to transit
Kuwait on August 31 and September 3, 2006.


2. (U) This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq;
you must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad.


3. (U) No hotel reservations have been made. Embassy
Officers will meet and assist the delegation at Ali Al Salem
Air Base.

The Embassy point of contact is:

Carri Mowry, Coordinator ISU
Office- (965) 259-1419
Cell- (965) 973-9854
Fax- (965) 259-1190
Unclass e-mail: MowryCA@state.gov

SIPDIS


4. (U) Following is post's standard guidance for visitors to
Kuwait: Kuwait now issues single-entry visas to American
citizens on arrival, upon presentation of a passport. Post
strongly advises travelers to carry some documentation on the
purpose of their visit. Passengers arriving on other than
commercial flights should anticipate extra delays, because
immigration services are not available on the military side
of the airfield and passports have to be carried to a
different site at the airport for processing. Airport visas
are valid for 90 days after arrival; anyone staying beyond
this period must obtain an extension, which should be
requested 2 weeks prior to expiration. Anyone departing
Kuwait who has overstayed the visa will be charged a fine of
KD 10 (US$33.50) per day at the airport. All travelers
planning to visit Iraq should make sure that they obtain
exit/entry stamps for each transit through Kuwait, and be
aware that they will need to obtain a new
Kuwaiti visa upon return, even after a day-trip to Baghdad.
Failure to do so can result in heavy fines. If possible,
travelers should try to obtain a multiple-entry visa before
arriving in Kuwait.


5. (U) Visitors are reminded that the importation of
alcohol, pork products, personal firearms, and any
suggestive/pornographic materials (videotapes, magazines or
books) is strictly prohibited by Kuwaiti law. Kuwait is
still clearing mines and munitions. Visitors must remain on
major paved roads when traveling in Kuwait. Travel North of
Jahra toward the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is not authorized

without approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort.


6. (U) Threat Assessment: Kuwait is a high-threat post and
the military threatcon is currently Charlie. We have
increased security precautions at official U.S. installations
in Kuwait and recommend that all Americans in Kuwait remain
alert to their surroundings and review their personal
security practices.


7. (U) Fiscal Data: Thank you for providing fiscal data.
Each agency, organization, delegation or visiting individual
will be charged for all costs attributed to their visit.
These costs include, but not limited to: LES and American
staff overtime, vehicle and equipment rental, office and
medical supplies, telephone calls, expeditor services,
airport transportation other mileage driven, and
representational events. If fiscal data on visitor's travel
authorization is to be used for this purpose, it must be
clearly spelled out and sufficient funding must be provided.


8. (U) Health Unit: All TDY or PCS personnel that would like
to be vaccinated against smallpox should get the vaccine in
M/MED in Washington before coming to post. The smallpox
vaccine for pre-exposure vaccination is not available at
post. There are prepositioned doses of smallpox vaccine at
post to be used only if an actual exposure occurs. The
smallpox vaccine is being offered to personnel that are
coming to work at Embassy Kuwait as a strictly voluntary
protection in case of a possible biological attack.


9. (U) Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October
is the hot season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120?-140?F in
summer. Caution should be taken to prevent dehydration and
heat exhaustion by 1) drinking plenty of fluids and 2)
staying indoors, especially during peak temperature hours of
12:00-15:00. Low humidity coupled with high temperatures
creates excessive moisture loss from evaporation. It is
necessary to drink 2-4 quarts of water daily to prevent
dehydration.



10. (U) Health Advisory for Iraq: Remember to bring
adequate medications and to be current on vaccines as getting
medical supplies in Iraq has been difficult. Consistent with
U.S. military policy since January 2005, and having no cases
of malaria reported to date in U.S. Embassy personnel,
malaria prophylaxis is not routinely recommended for Iraq.
Vivax malaria historically exists in the northern provinces
of Duhok, Erbil, Ninawa, Sulaimaniya, Tmim (May-October),and
in the south around Basrah (April-November). There is no risk
in Baghdad. Individuals that travel to those areas need to
continue to check current embassy recommendations. Malaria
must be a consideration in anyone with a fever who has
traveled to
those areas. To protect against insect bites, use insect
repellants, long clothing and other measures to prevent
insect bites.


11. (U) CAA Access: Visitors who need unescorted access
into secure areas of the mission must slug cables to the
attention of the RSO, and include the level of their
clearance. The cable should include the social security
number of the requester and the name of the agency granting
the clearance. Cables should include the ASEC tag to ensure
distribution to the RSO office and the Marine Security guard
at post one.


12. (U) Computer and Electronics usage: Inter-agency
security standards prohibit the introduction or use of
non-USG owned computer hardware and software at all USG
diplomatic facilities. Cell phones, palm pilots, radios and
other convenience electronics are prohibited in all secure
areas of the mission.


13. (U) Sensitive military information has been located
recently on business center computers at local hotels in
Kuwait City. All U.S. Government personnel and contractors
must remember that it is their responsibility to observe good
computer and information security practices. Information
processed on computers and hotel business centers, through
e-mail correspondence or document creation, is highly
exploitable. Public computers located in hotel business
centers, internet cafes, airport lounges, etc. should never
be used to process, store or disseminate sensitive
information. Compromise of sensitive government or military
information can result in serious damage to national
security. Compromises of sensitive personal data can result
in significant personal and financial hardship. Random
checks are conducted by Embassy personnel on public PC's.
Breaches in COMPUSEC will result in the violator receiving
security infractions and/or security violations.


14. (U) Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Saturday
through Wednesday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
switchboard numbers are (965) 259-1001, IVG: 495-0000. The
after hours number which rings at Marine Guard post one is
(965) 538-2098.


15. (U) The time difference with the East Coast of the
United States is EDT plus 7 hours.

********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
LeBaron