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