EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING

S E C R E T MANAMA 000814 NOFORN DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, S/CT, CA/OCS, NEA/ARP, A/OPR/ALS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER CASC BA SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING Classified By: DCM Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) DCM chaired a meeting of the emergency action committee (EAC) on Monday, December 15 to discuss the upcoming Bahrain National Day on December 16 and the Shia oppositionist day locally referred to as Martyrs, Day on December 17. RSO also briefed on a separate school security issue. DCM, RSO, GRPO, POL, MGT, CONS, DAO, PAO, OMC, NCIS, and the Commander, U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain attended. ¶2. (S/NF) DCM and RSO provided an overview of anti-government demonstrations that occurred during the same period last year and briefed planned Post security preparations, including issuing an Embassy security notice and Consular demonstration notice outlining possible demonstration locations. RSO further briefed Interior Ministry security preparations and two Embassy security exercises planned this week with the Marine FAST Company stationed at NSA Bahrain. GRPO confirmed the lack of threat information other than normal anti-government demonstration activity. Commander NSA Bahrain noted that scheduled U.S. Navy ship visits would almost double the number of Navy personnel on the island over the holiday period, and that NSA Bahrain security preparations were consistent with the Embassy. DCM directed section and agency heads to brief their employees to remain vigilant, avoid demonstration activity, remain in contact with their cell phones, and ensure that their radios were charged. EAC agreed that Post,s preparations for the holiday period are appropriate for current threat conditions. Soft Target Initiative -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On a separate issue, RSO briefed EAC members on the success of Post,s request for funding through the Department,s Soft Target security upgrade initiative for overseas schools. Two local schools attended by Embassy children will receive a total of almost $300K to upgrade their existing physical security measures. The upgrades are expected to be completed by mid-2009. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** ERELI