DOD NSDD-38 Request to Station a Force Protection Unit at

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001101

NOFORN
SIPDIS
M/PRI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/28
TAGS: AODE ASEC AMGT KMRS MU
SUBJECT: DOD NSDD-38 Request to Station a Force Protection Unit at
Embassy Muscat

REF: STATE 57245; NSDD 38 CASE NUMBER DOD-NV00-0017-2009

CLASSIFIED BY: Schmierer, Richard, Ambassador, Department of State,
Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (S) Summary: In the three months since my arrival at post I
have made it a priority to become familiar with the security
context and operational environment here in Oman. In this
connection, I have visited the Mutrah (Muscat) and Salalah ports
and the War Reserve Materiel site at Thumrait Air Base, and have
consulted extensively with appropriate USG elements in Oman and
Washington, DC, with the subject NSDD-38 request specifically in
mind. Based on these activities, observations and consultations, I
am confident that Embassy Muscat will be able to continue providing
and facilitating appropriate security support for CENTCOM and other
DOD visitors and assets in Oman using currently existing USG
capabilities in Oman and in the region. For this reason I have
decided to decline the subject NSDD-38 request for a DOD Force
Protection Detachment to be based at Embassy Muscat. End Summary.




2. (S) In the NSDD-38 request and supporting materials which I
have been provided concerning the proposal to station a
three-person DOD Force Protection Detachment (FPD) at Embassy
Muscat, DOD has provided a thoughtful analysis and assessment of
the security situation in Oman and the security support needs for
visiting / transiting / deployed CENTCOM and other DOD assets in
Oman. This NSDD-38 request, which is dated June 3, 2009, arrived
at post shortly after the departure of the previous Ambassador, and
somewhat over three months before my arrival at post. My need to
review the Embassy's operational security capabilities, assess the
overall security climate in Oman, and visit key sites around the
country related to the NSDD-38 request, resulted in a delay in this
mission's response to the request. However, having now undertaken
the steps needed to adequately review and assess this request, I am
confident that current security circumstances and capabilities -
including some which have arisen since the time of the subject
NSDD-38 request - obviate the need for the deployment of a DOD FPD
to Embassy Muscat.




3. (S) Embassy Muscat's Regional Security Office (RSO) has
operational oversight and responsibility for the security of
personnel and assets present in Oman under Chief of Mission
authority. As a corollary to such responsibility, the RSO also
assists and coordinates with other USG entities with personnel or
assets in Oman which are not under COM authority, including CENTCOM
and other elements of the U.S. military. Since the receipt of the
NSDD-38 request to deploy a DOD FPD to Muscat, the RSO's American
staff has increased by 50% (from 2 FSOs to 3),and has added an
additional local-hire staff member as well. In consultations with
the RSO on this NSDD-38 request, I have been assured that
arrangements currently in place for ensuring security support to
DOD personnel and assets located in, and visiting or transiting
Oman, are adequate. In addition, I assess that the current and
projected future volume of ship visits and other activities which
would generate security support requirements is well within the
capabilities of our RSO office, as recently augmented, in
coordination with DOD assets in the region.




4. (S) An additional factor in evaluating this NSDD-38 request
involves the location of the personnel and assets whose security
would be the responsibility of the proposed FPD. The great
majority of such personnel / assets would be in locations in Oman
which are remote from Muscat. Thus, the permanent residence of
such a FPD in Muscat would not eliminate the need for remote
deployment (currently undertaken from nearby locations outside of
Oman, but within the region) to address these security needs.




5. (S) A final factor in considering this request is the
possibility of unintended or inadvertent effects of the presence of
such a FPD in Muscat, such as the possible de facto development of
a security double standard between civilian and non-civilian
personnel under COM authority, or possible confusion concerning
operational security responsibilities between the FPD and the RSO.




6. (S) It is on the basis of this background and these
considerations that I have decided to decline the NSDD-38 request
to deploy a DOD FPD to Muscat.
Schmierer