US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1569

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001569 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO ALEXANDER LANDA, JEFFREY GROSSMAN AND ANDREW 
JAMES WILLIAMSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSCA, ENRG, TRGY, OTRA, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS CTRY CLR, DOE/NNSA/DPTRAV  LANDA + 2, 
(07/10/2004 - 07/17/2004) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 137747 
 
  1.  Country Clearance is granted for Alexander Landa, 
Jeffrey Grossman and Andrew James Williamson for travel to 
Leiden, The Netherlands from July 10-17, 2004. 
 
2.  Embassy understands that no assistance is requested. 
 
POST ACCESS: 
 
3.  Visitors who need unescorted access into secure areas of 
the Mission must provide proof of at least a secret 
clearance. If level of clearance was not provided in the 
original country clearance request it should be done by 
separate cable.  The cable should include SSN, and the name 
of the agency granting the security clearance.  Cables must 
include the ASEC Tag to ensure distribution to the RSO office. 
 
COMPUTER and ELECTRONICS USAGE: 
 
4.  Inter-agency security standards prohibit the introduction 
or use of non-USG owned computer hardware and software at all 
USG diplomatic facilities.  Cell phones, palm pilots, radios 
and other convenience electronics are prohibited in all 
secure areas of the Mission. 
 
5.  Travelers who anticipate having special needs in terms of 
either access or computer usage should contact the RSO office 
before arriving at post. 
 
 
SECURITY ADVISORY: 
 
6.  Post provides the following threat assessment for The 
Netherlands: The Department of State on March 23, 2004 issued 
a worldwide caution.  The U.S. Government remains deeply 
concerned about the  security of U.S. citizens overseas. 
U.S. citizens are cautioned to maintain a high level of 
vigilance, to remain alert and to take appropriate steps to 
increase their security awareness.  We are seeing increasing 
indications that Al-Qaida is preparing to strike U.S. 
interests abroad.  Al-Qaida and its associated organizations 
have struck in the Middle East in Rijadh, Saudi Arabia and in 
Europe in Istanbul, Turkey.  We therefore assess that other 
geographic locations could be venues for the next round of 
attacks.  We expect Al-Qaida will strive for new attacks 
designed to be more devastating than the September 11 attack, 
possibly involving non-conventional weapons such as chemical 
or biological agents.  We also cannot rule out that Al-Qaida 
will attempt a second catastrophic attack within the U.S. 
 
Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, 
suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. 
These may also involve commercial aircraft and maritime 
interests, and threats to include conventional weapons, such 
as explosive devices.  Terrorists do not distinguish between 
official and civilian targets.  These may include facilities 
where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, 
including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of 
worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or 
resorts and beaches.  U.S. citizens should remain in a 
heightened state of personal security awareness when 
attendance at such locations is unavoidable.  Please consult 
the Department's web site for text:  http://travel.state.gov. 
 
 
A concern for visitors is crime.  Most crimes against 
official Americans are limited to pick-pocketing and luggage 
theft.  Theft from automobiles and hotel rooms are not 
unknown.  Recently, theft of laptop computers has increased, 
especially at Schiphol Airport and major train stations.  The 
thieves operate in small groups that target travelers.  They 
are determined and well practiced at distraction theft. 
Several official travelers have been victimized losing 
personal or unclassified government computers, valuable 
software and data.  Travelers are reminded regulations 
require the use of the diplomatic pouch for shipment of 
classified equipment and information. 
 
Streets can be walked in relative safety, but as in any U.S. 
urban area, caution should be exercised after dark in the 
more populated cities of The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. 
 Red-light districts and public transportation hubs are 
common locations for incidents of street crime. 
SOBEL