BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 29, 2008

S E C R E T BEIRUT 001543 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR DS/CC; DS/DSS/ITA; DS/IP/NEA; NEA/EX; S/ES E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2018 TAGS: ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY SUBJECT: BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 29, 2008 Classified By: RSO Tom Depenbrock for Reason 1.5 (c) ¶1. (S) Ambassador Sison convened a meeting of Embassy Beirut's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 29, 2008 to review security preparations for U.S Election Night events. The following EAC members were present: AMB, DCM, RSO, MGMT, INL, CONS, RAO, PD, POL/ECON. ¶2. (S) Embassy Beirut's US Election Night event will take place on Tuesday, November 4. It is scheduled to begin at 2300 hours and end at 0600 the following day. The event will take place at the Ambassador's Residence (EMR) on the Embassy compound. Over 900 individuals have been invited to the event with the peak time predicted to be from 2300 to 0100 hours. All invited guests will enter the Embassy compound in accordance with our normal access control and screening proedures. Embassy LES employees will also assist in the identification process at the entrance points as well as at the EMR. Live press interviews will be conducted and press will be swept and escorted while on compound. Embassy Beirut will only use vendors or contractors that have a valid security certification or have been previously screened by RSO Beirut. ¶3. (S) In addition to the mormal complement of Lebanese Internal Security Force (ISF) and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) that provide security support to Embassy Beirut, RSO has requested an additional presence from each organization to include traffic police. Representatives from each organization are aware of the event and will attend a countdown meeting with RSO on Monday, November 3, 2008 at 1400 hours. Embassy Beirut's Local Guard Force and Bodyguard Force will have additional personnel on duty that night for screening and processing guests. Embassy Beirut's Surveillance Detection teams will also operate on extended hours as they normally end their coverage at 2300 hours. ¶4. (S) The EAC is not aware of any specific or credible threat that would prevent this event from moving forward as planned. SISON