REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 04/10/2007

S E C R E T BASRAH 000026 SIPDIS SIPDIS DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, NEA/EX, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/10/2017 TAGS: ASEC PTER AMGT IZ SUBJECT: REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 04/10/2007 CLASSIFIED BY: Dan Wilhelm, ARSO, REO Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (S) The Regional Director chaired a meeting of the expanded Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on April 10, 2007 to discuss concerns raised in Baghdad over the amount of Indirect Fire (IDF) attacks against the Basrah Palace Compound (BPC). Attending the meeting were the Acting Regional Security Officer, Management Officer, Information Management Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Acting ORA Chief, and representatives from the Strategic Counter-Intelligence Directorate (SCID),KBR, and Triple Canopy. The consensus of the Committee was that current conditions do not warrant a change in REO operations. Current security measures, including the use of hardened cover, the wearing of PPE, and limits set for time spent in trailers were deemed adequate to minimize the risk of casualties. All acknowledged that the possibility of injury still exists, but that the personnel and tenants of the REO are aware of the risks and are willing to remain at the BPC in order to accomplish the upcoming move to the Basrah Air Station (BAS). In short, it was agreed that we have experienced worse, and that the current threat is manageable. ¶2. (S) The Committee agreed that an expedited departure in the face of adversity would send the wrong message to the attackers and to the people of Basrah. No one present advocated for an immediate withdrawal. Further, it was agreed that a hasty departure would severely affect our ability to re-establish operations at the BAS. The Committee decided that all efforts at the REO should be directed towards an organized and timely move to the BAS. BONO