TSA REVIEW TEAMS VISITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 105626

SIPDIS, AMMAN FOR TSAR, FRANKFURT FOR TSAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2018
TAGS: ASEC EAIR KTER UA KU QA
SUBJECT: TSA REVIEW TEAMS VISITS

Classified By: EEB/TRA/OTP, Office Director Daniel K. Moore. Reasons
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 2.


2. (C) Summary and action request: In response to the recent general
increase in terrorist activity in the broader Middle East and South
Asia, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to
temporarily increase its monitoring and assessment outreach in
Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, per normal procedures.
TSA proposes to send four two-member teams for 10-14 days beginning
October 4 to the international airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and
Kuwait to review and assess security procedures for flights departing
to and arriving from the United States. TSA also plans to
temporarily increase the number of Federal Air Marshals missions on
U.S. carrier flights throughout the region. Posts are asked to
provide country clearances as requested via the e-country clearance
channel. In view of the current Eid holiday, posts are asked to
assist and facilitate the TSA teams' work, especially in outreach to
host country stakeholders. End summary and action request.


3. (SBU) Following the recent bombings in Islamabad and Yemen, and
the Department's September 23 travel alert for the Arabian Peninsula
and Persian Gulf, TSA is proposing to temporarily increase its
security monitoring activities in the Gulf region in accordance with
International Civil Aviation Organization regulations and bilateral
agreements with host governments. Based on prior TSA assessments and
scheduled air service to the United States, including by U.S.
carriers, TSA proposes to send four two-person monitoring and
assessment teams to the airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and
Kuwait. The teams, which will consist of TSA inspectors already
familiar with the four airports, hope to spend 10 to 14 days
observing the full spectrum of security measures related to the
processing of flights to and from the United States. The teams plan
to arrive on or immediately after October 4.


4. (U) These security assessments have not been prompted by any
specific threat information and are meant to build on TSA's regular
aviation security inspection process. The teams will seek to meet
with host country aviation security officials in the context of TSA's
regular, on-going cooperation with local airport, airline and law
enforcement partners. In Doha and Abu Dhabi, the teams would welcome
the opportunity to join host government officials in observing
boarding and baggage loading procedures for some of the non-U.S.
carrier flights to the United States.


5. (C) During the teams' deployment, TSA's Washington-based regional
manager will travel to Amman and Dubai to consult with TSA's regional
representative in Amman and observe aviation security measures in the
Amman airport. The regional manager will then travel to Dubai to
join the observer team and liaise with local counterparts. In
addition to the planned deployment of assessment teams, TSA will also
increase Federal Air Marshall missions on U.S. carrier flights to and
from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan. This increased
coverage will require that a Federal Air Marshals supervisor be
temporarily based on site at all three locations for not more than 30
days to facilitate these missions and work with embassy officials to
support these missions.


6. (U) Posts are asked to provide country clearance for the TSA
teams, regional manager and FAM supervisors as requested via the
e-country clearance channel. In view of the current Eid holiday and
anticipated reduced presence in government offices, posts are
requested to assist and facilitate the teams' outreach to host
country stakeholders.
RICE