EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/11/2006

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000191

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/EX
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/DSS/CC, AND CA/OCS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1
TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/11/2006

REF: MUSCAT 0176

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on February 11 to review the
Embassy's security posture following the local weekend.
Members noted no substantive changes in the local security
environment since the last meeting, and agreed that the
Embassy's already heightened security posture and force
protection condition (FPCON) remain appropriate. End Summary.

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Local Security Situation
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2. (SBU) On February 11, the Ambassador chaired a meeting
of the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture
following the local weekend. The meeting opened with a
discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC
continued to characterize as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted
no/no weekend demonstrations or new threat reporting specific
to Oman. Members, including Duty Officer, cited no security
incidents among their staffs or family members over the
weekend, while CONS confirmed that there were no reported
security incidents or security-related queries from the
private American citizen community.

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Emergency Preparedness
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3. (SBU) In conjunction with the EAC's ongoing discussions
on emergency preparedness, members agreed to an unannounced
Embassy-wide "Duck and Cover" drill to be held during the
week of February 19. RSO advised that a detailed Security
Notice on the appropriate response to Imminent Danger
Notification System activation will precede the drill, and
encouraged all section heads to review the guidance with
their entire staff. RSO added that a revised Office Warden
list is in draft, also in Security Notice format, in
preparation for an upcoming Embassy-wide Emergency
Destruction/Internal Defense Drill.

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Sustained Vigilance
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4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated
that members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both
their staffs and family members the need for vigilance
regarding all aspects of personal security - to include
maintaining a low profile, and remaining unpredictable and
situationally aware. RSO further re-emphasized the
importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity
or security-related incidents to Post One.

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EAC Conclusion
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5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting, held on February 8 (reftel). Accordingly,
members agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security
posture and FPCON remain appropriate. Embassy Muscat remains
acutely aware of the need to monitor both the regional and
local security and threat environments, and is prepared to
take the necessary countermeasures should changes to either
occur. AMB, DCM, P/E, MGT, RSO, SIMO, PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO,
OMC (USDR),ECA (USCENTAF),and Duty Officer participated in
the meeting.
BALTIMORE