US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT193

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, 
DS/SPC/MSG, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, KMSG, KHLS, KVPR, CASC, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/02/2005 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 18628 
 
     B. MUSCAT 161 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(g). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency 
Action Committee February 2 to review the Embassy's security 
posture prior to the local weekend.  Members of the EAC noted 
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 February 2, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of 
the 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. 
 The EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman. 
 
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Procedural Security 
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3.  (S)  RSO led a review of reftel A, regarding updated 
procedures for abandoning Post One when required to do so as 
a defensive measure.  MSG confirmed that the reftel checklist 
will be made readily available to Post One, effective 
immediately.  RSO added that the checklist will also be 
incorporated into future REACT and Embassy-wide drills, such 
as an upcoming combined internal defense/emergency 
destruction drill. 
 
4.  (C)  ARSO presented a proposal for revising the 
Chancery's vehicle screening procedures.  The revised 
procedures, approved by the EAC, will include the 
pre-screening of vehicles (ID checks and physical/visual 
inspection) prior to their entry into the motorpool's sally 
port.  It was noted that the new procedures will also serve 
to increase visual deterrence. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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5.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, the Ambassador 
asked all members of the EAC to continue reinforcing to both 
their staffs and family members the need for security 
awareness.  On a related note, RSO emphasized that all 
suspicious activity or security-related incidents, as 
insignificant as they may appear, should be reported to Post 
One immediately. 
 
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EAC Conclusion 
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6.  (SBU)  The EAC concluded that there have been no 
substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the 
local security environment since the last meeting held on 
January 29 (reftel B), 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, ARSO, P/E, CONS, MGT, MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA 
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting, which was followed by 
a meeting of the Visas Viper Committee. 
BALTIMORE