RIYADH EAC - 27 JANUARY 2008

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000133 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, DS/IP/NEA, DS/ITA, D, P, M, CA, S/CT, INR, AND DS/IP/SPC/MSG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2018 TAGS: AMGT ASEC CASC PGOV PTER PREL SA SUBJECT: RIYADH EAC - 27 JANUARY 2008 REF: STATE 8993 Classified By: CDA David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) On Sunday, January 27, the Charge d'Affaires convened a regularly scheduled Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting to review the Embassy's security posture. Present were the ECON, PA, CONS, BPM, POL, LEGAT, MSG, DAO, CLO, MGT, and RSO. BPM and RSO reported no new specific and/or credible threats to the Mission. Members agreed that the Embassy's existing security posture remains appropriate to the current security environment. Mission security reporting and host Government cooperation have improved in recent weeks. -------------- SECURITY ENVIRONMENT -------------- ¶2. (S) EAC members raised no new specific threat information related to the KSA. The RSO noted recent assessments from both Diplomatic Security and DIA suggesting a recent quote up-tick unquote in threat reporting being generated from the KSA. EAC members agreed that this could be the result of improved information from Post on security matters and not necessarily the result of deterioration in the local security environment. Embassy Riyadh staff also noted a general increase in host country security immediately before, during and following President Bush's visit earlier this month. Consulates General Jeddah and Dhahran continue to report good support from the host government. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC discussed recent worldwide events to include ongoing instability in Gaza, recent attacks in Lebanon and Yemen, and the forthcoming release of short film funded by a Dutch parliamentarian that is anticipated to be inflammatory towards Muslims. EAC members agreed appropriate security measures are in place and believe that popular reaction to any video will not necessarily be directed toward U.S. interests. The Mission will monitor events in response to any video release and determine whether there is a need to issue a Warden Message or SMS Message to private American citizen communities. -------------- MISSION SECURITY REPORTING -------------- ¶4. (U) The Department has updated the Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia to reflect the current security environment and is available for review on the CA / post website. The most significant change in the language urges U.S. citizens to "consider carefully the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia," and no longer recommends that Americans defer non-essential travel to the Kingdom. Post's OSAC guidance was updated to reflect this change as well. Post is also reviewing the Annual Crime Evaluation and Security Environment Profile questionnaires. -------------- TRIPWIRES -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post will be reviewing current reverse tripwires for the return of family members to the KSA at regularly scheduled EAC in February. The ongoing program allowing visits by adult family members has been a success with no adverse affects on Mission programs. -------------- SECURITY UPGRADES -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The RSO led a discussion of ongoing residential security upgrades and will prepare a report on the status of all programs for next month's EAC meeting. This will include reviews of current State Department standards and a discussion as to which programs need to be maintained and which need to be discontinued. The RSO also noted that the construction project to improve the perimeter wall around the Embassy is ongoing and that appropriate security measures have been taken to address changes in our profile. Following completion of the wall upgrade project, post will be required to conduct surveys to address security CCTV and lighting requirements. ¶7. (U) Finally, all staff were reminded to exercise caution in their daily routines and to immediately report any suspicious behavior or event to the RSO. RIYADH 00000133 002 OF 002 GFOELLER