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.

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SECURITY ENVIRONMENT
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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.

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MISSION SECURITY REPORTING
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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.

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TRIPWIRES
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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.

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SECURITY UPGRADES
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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.

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GFOELLER