US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2195

S E C R E T MUSCAT 002195 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/OSAC, 
CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/15/2004 
 
REF: MUSCAT 2153 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4(c). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  Summary: The Ambassador chaired December 15 a 
meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee to review the 
Embassy\'s security posture prior to the local weekend. 
Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to 
Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive 
changes in the local security environment since the last 
meeting.  Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy\'s 
already heightened security posture and FPCON remain 
appropriate.  End Summary. 
 
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Security Environment 
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2.  (SBU)  On December 15, the Ambassador chaired a meeting 
of the core Emergency Action Committee (\"EAC\") to review the 
Embassy\'s security posture prior to the local weekend.  The 
meeting opened with a discussion of the local security 
situation, which the EAC continued to characterize as stable. 
 Likewise, the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to 
Oman, and concurred that there have been no substantive 
changes in previously reported assessments of the security 
and threat environments.  Members of the EAC cited no 
security incidents among their staffs or family members. 
 
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Holiday Events 
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3.  (SBU)  The EAC also discussed numerous private and 
official events scheduled for the holiday season, ranging 
from representational events hosted at residences to a family 
event this weekend at the Chancery.  Specifically, the DCM 
reminded all sections to fully coordinate with RSO and/or the 
EAC on security requirements for said events. 
 
4.  (SBU)  On a related note, the Ambassador reiterated that 
the holiday season, and its host of events, call for members 
of the EAC to continue reinforcing to both their staffs and 
family members the need to maintain their current level of 
vigilance regarding personal security practices.  Similarly, 
RSO added the importance and effectiveness of immediately 
reporting suspicious activity or security-related incidents. 
 
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EAC Conclusion 
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5.  (S/NF)  The EAC concluded that there have been no 
substantive changes in the local security environment since 
the last meeting held on December 11 (reftel), and that the 
Embassy\'s FPCON and already heightened security posture 
remain appropriate.  Nonetheless, the EAC remains acutely 
aware of the need to monitor both the regional and local 
security and threat environments, and is prepared to take the 
necessary countermeasures should changes to either occur. 
AMB, DCM, RSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, MGT, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA 
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE