(SBU) PROTECTION OF QATAR'S CRITICAL

S E C R E T STATE 089004

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2034
TAGS: PINR EPET PTER QA
SUBJECT: (SBU) PROTECTION OF QATAR'S CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURES (C-NC9-01800)

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE FOLLOWING MEASURES TAKEN
BY QATAR'S MINISTRY OF INTERIOR TO IMPROVE CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION. IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS QATAR
IS EXPECTED TO BECOME THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF LIQUEFIED
NATURAL GAS TO THE US. AL-QA'IDA HAS LONG SOUGHT TO TARGET
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. ANALYSTS AND
SENIOR POLICYMAKERS ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN QATAR'S LEVEL OF
INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND PREPAREDNESS TO RESPOND TO
TERRORISM EVENTS, GIVEN QATAR'S INCREASING IMPORTANCE AS A
PRODUCER OF OIL AND GAS AND ITS CONCOMITANT HIGH VALUE AS A
POTENTIAL TERRORISM TARGET. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE
POST'S PERSPECTIVES ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AND QUESTIONS, AS
TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT.


A. (S/NF) WHICH OFFICIALS IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR,
QATAR PETROLEUM, AND QATAR GAS COMPONENTS ARE TASKED WITH
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RESPONSIBILITIES? WHAT ARE THE
CAPABILITIES AND LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL
ELEMENTS THEY OVERSEE?


B. (S/NF) DO MOI COMPONENTS AND QATAR PETROLEUM ELEMENTS
TASKED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION COOPERATE AND
COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS? WHAT INCIDENTS INDICATE POOR OR
GOOD COOPERATION?


C. (S/NF) WHAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO MOI, QATAR
PETROLEUM, AND QATAR GAS PERSONNEL? DOES ANY OF THIS
TRAINING DEAL WITH TERRORISM INCIDENTS? HOW WELL DO THESE
ELEMENTS PERFORM IN TRAINING EXERCISES?


D. (S/NF) HOW DO SENIOR MOI AND QP OFFICIALS VIEW THE
TERRORIST THREAT TO QATARI CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE? HOW ARE
THEY ADDRESSING WHATEVER THREATS THEY ANTICIPATE?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NC9-01800 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON