UNCLAS KUWAIT 004203

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NSC FOR RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OTRA KU COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR APHSCT
FRANCES TOWNSEND, MICHELE MALVESTI, AND MICHAEL TAYLOR

REF: WHITE HOUSE


1. (SBU) Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country
clearance for Frances Fragos Townsend, Michele L. Malvesti,
and Michael Taylor to travel to post per reftel.


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


3. (SBU) Hotel reservations to be confirmed. The per diem
rate for Kuwait is USD 260 plus M&IE of USD 96 for a total of
USD 356.
An Embassy visit officer and a driver/expeditor will meet and
assist you at the airport.

Embassy point of contact is:

Donald A. Blome, Political Section Chief
Office (965) 259-1462
Cell (965) 968-0024
Fax (965) 259-1051
Unclass e-mail: BlomeDA@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 daytrip 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. (SBU) 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 are 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 Iraq: Remember to bring adequate
medications and to be current on vaccines as getting medical
supplies in Iraq has been difficult. Consistent with US
military policy since January 2005, and having no cases of
malaria reported
to date in US 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.


10. (SBU) 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 requestor
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.


11. (SBU) 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.


12. (SBU) Sensitive military information has been located
recently on business center computers at local hotels in
Kuwait City. All US
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.


13. (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.


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

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

You can also access the site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.
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