EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/18/2006

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000408

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, AND NEA/EX
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/ICI/PII, 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 - 03/18/2006

REF: MUSCAT 0382

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Charge chaired a meeting of the full Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on March 18 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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Security Environment
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2. (SBU) On March 18, the Charge 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. Members 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. Likewise, members noted no/no new threat
reporting specific to Oman, or developments related to the
unsubstantiated threat information discussed on March 15
(reftel).

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Sustained Vigilance
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3. (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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4. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting, held on March 15 (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. CDA, P/E, MGT, RSO, ARSO, SIMO, PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO,
and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting, which was
preceded by a meeting of the Counterintelligence Working
Group (to be reported septel).
STEWART