(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