EMBASSY MUSCAT - 03/04/2006

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000317

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 - 03/04/2006

REF: MUSCAT 0294

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 March 4 to assess 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 Environment
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2. (SBU) On March 4, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of
the full EAC to assess the Embassy's security posture
following the local weekend. The meeting opened with a
discussion of the local and regional security situations,
including a review of the developing facts surrounding the
March 2 terrorist bombing at Consulate General Karachi.
Continuing to characterize the local security environment as
stable, members cited no security incidents among their
staffs or family members, while CONS confirmed that there
were no reported incidents or security-related queries from
the private American citizen community. Likewise, the EAC
reported no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman.

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EAC Conclusion
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3. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting held on March 1 (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, ARSO, SIMO, PAO, CONS, MSG,
and OMC (USDR) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE