BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2008

S E C R E T BEIRUT 001450 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR DS/CC; DS/DSS/ITA; DS/IP/NEA; NEA/EX; S/ES POSTS FOR RSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018 TAGS: ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY SUBJECT: BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2008 REF: A. A) BEIRUT 1414 ¶B. B) BEIRUT 1441 Classified By: RSO Tom Depenbrock for reason 1.5 (c) ¶1. (S) DCM convened a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 7 to discuss the embassy's security posture in light of the latest threat information and security arrangements for the upcoming Made in America Expo in Beirut October 9-11 and related events. The following EAC members were present during the meeting: DCM, POL/ECON, RAO, RSO, AID, DAO, INL, MGMT, CONS, CLO and PAO. The Made in America expo is sponsored by USFCS and will be held at the BIEL conference center. On October 9, the American-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce will host an opening dinner in the top-story resturant of the Phoenicia Hotel. ¶2. (S) RAO opined that there is no "specific" threat information directed at the embassy or USG interests at this time. RSO briefed EAC of the extensive security plans for the Made in American event, including his meeting that day with Lebanese authorities in which confirmed the security arrangements described in post's last EAC message, ref b. RSO announced that all motorcade movements to the various locations will be staggered and routes varied in order to prevent a bottleneck of embassy vehicles at the entry points. RSO informed the EAC that the host nation Internal Security Force (ISF) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have been extremely cooperative in providing addtional support in response to RSO's requests. Other, unofficial moves off the compound likely will be curtailed on October 9th. RSO reported that the Phoenicia Hotel normally has a high level of security and that RSO staff would be meeting with hotel officials later that day to review security procedures for the dinner. ¶3. (S) EAC determined that, given the current assessment of the threat level and the security arrangements in place, the Made in America events should go ahead as planned. Regarding a fashion show slated to take place October 11 at the Aishti Department store, EAC decided that no more than three Americans should attend in order to reduce the visibility of official Americans. SISON