US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT533

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000533 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/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 - 03/30/2005 
 
REF: MUSCAT 0492 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(c). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of 
the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) March 30 to review 
the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. 
Members 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 March 30, the Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a 
meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee 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. 
 No/no new threat reporting was noted specific to Oman. 
Likewise, members cited no untoward incidents related to the 
Easter period or the visit of the Queen Elizabeth II cruise 
liner to the ports of Muscat and Salalah and March 27/28 and 
29/30, respectively. 
 
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Emergency Preparedness 
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3.  (SBU)  The DCM led a discussion of lessons learned from 
the unannounced Embassy-wide fire drill held on March 30. 
RSO commented on the drill's overall effectiveness and solid 
participation.  Embassy Muscat will maintain its increased 
drilling tempo in all areas of emergency preparedness. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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4.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated 
that members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both 
their staffs and family members the need for vigilance 
regarding all aspects of personal security.  RSO further 
re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting all 
suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. 
 
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Conclusion 
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5.  (S/NF)  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 
March 22 (reftel).  Accordingly, members agreed that the 
Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON 
remain appropriate.  Embassy Muscat 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.  DCM, P/E, 
A/MGT, RSO, RMAS, CONS (Duty Officer), DAO, OMC (USDR), and 
ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE