US embassy cable - 04SANAA1966

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001966 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ 
ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 
TAGS: AMGT, ASEC, PREL, PTER, EAC 
SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 08/11/2004 
 
 
Classified By: Acting RSO Paul O'Keefe, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury, for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
1.  (C)  Begin Summary:  The CDA convened an EAC 
meeting on August 11, 2004, to share security 
concerns with regard to recent incidents in the Al-Jawf 
region and to remind the Embassy community to remain 
vigilant in light of recent threat reporting and to 
report all security related incidents immediately to 
the RSO. EAC members noted no specific threats against 
Embassy Sanaa The American community continues to remain 
in a high state of security awareness even in the absence 
of specific threat against Americans or the Embassy. 
Key offices and personnel represented included:  FPD, 
OMC, ORCA, POL/ECON ,HU, CCE-Yemen, and RSO. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2.  (C)  CDA referred EAC members to recent incidents 
in the Al-Jawf region.  On July 28th, 2004, members 
of ADRA (USAID contractors) traveling in the Al-Jawf 
region were stopped in what appeared to be an attempted 
car-jacking and forced to return to their point of 
origin. The following day on July 29, 2004, ADRA 
members were fired upon while attempting to enter 
the same region.  No injuries were incurred. 
 
3. (C/NF) FPD discussed two Aug 7, 2004 incidents while 
traveling in the Al-Jawf region.  During a refueling stop 
a large crowd gathered around an FPD motorcade and several 
local villagers began chanting "the Americans are here, it 
is a good day to die."  FPD and CCE members left the area 
immediately. Several hours later while approaching a school, 
the FPD motorcade was fired upon by a burst of three rounds 
believed to be from an AK-47. FPD and CCE members were 
subsequently informed by a local Sheikh the shots were 
meant as a warning to deter travelers from entering the area. 
 
 
4.  (C)  CDA emphasized that any incidents regarding 
security regardless of how insignificant it may seem at 
the time should be reported to the RSO in order 
to analyze trends in regard to both terrorism related 
matters and incidents relating to crime.  CDA added 
that creating a threat composite would also give the 
community a better understanding of the threat environment 
and allow the Embassy to make more informed recommendations 
to the Department concerning the need to either upgrade, or 
downgrade Post's security posture. 
 
 
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Post Advisory Actions 
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6.  (C)  CDA recommended convening an EAC meeting once a 
month regardless of any direct threat against the Embassy. 
RSO was asked track increases or decreases in security 
incidents 
and present findings to EAC members. 
 
 
KRAJESKI