US embassy cable - 05SANAA883

S E C R E T SANAA 000883 
 
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: 04/08/2015 
TAGS: AMGT, ASEC, PREL, PTER, EAC 
SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 04/08/2005 
 
REF: A. SANAA 882 
     B. SANAA 876 
     C. SANAA 875 
     D. SANAA 863 
     E. SANAA 860 
     F. SANAA 836 
 
Classified By: Classified by RSO Timothy Laas for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d) 
 
1. (S/NF) Summary:  The Charge d' Affaires (CDA) convened a 
core EAC meeting at 1400 hours, on April 08, 2005, to review 
posts security profile.  Based on the review the EAC decided 
to adhere to the security measures delineated in the 7 April 
2005, EAC reported REFTEL A.  Key offices and personnel 
represented at the meeting included: CDA, DAO, FBI, FPD, IPC, 
OMC, POLE, RSO, RMAS. 
 
2.  (S/NF)  The EAC discussed the mixed intelligence messages 
regarding the threat and decided it was prudent to continue 
with security measures outlined in REFTEL A.  EAC members 
noted concerns that this particular threat, if delayed and 
not diffused, would continue to pre-occupy key mission 
personnel for the medium term. 
 
3.  (S/NF)   Additionally, the EAC noted added concern for 
the security profile at post because of guerrilla style 
grenade attacks against military personnel and vehicles in 
downtown Sanaa over the past few weeks:  Recent reports 
indicate the likelihood that attacks are related to the 
ongoing insurrection in Saada.  The CDA stated that in his 
meeting on 7 April 2005 with the Minister of Interior, the 
Minister seemed to soften on his insistence that previous 
grenade attacks in Old City Sanaa, were isolated criminal 
acts.  The MOI conceded that attacks may well be related to 
the fighting in Saada. 
 
4.  (S/NF) EAC members stated that for the foreseeable future 
the security situation in Yemen is not likely to improve due 
to the spill-over of violence from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. 
The EAC believes that for the long term security policies and 
practices will need to address the realities of extremism in 
Yemen, speculating that Yemen may rapidly change from a 
transiting point to an operational theater for extremists. 
 
5.  (SBU) The EAC decided to reconvene an expanded EAC 
meeting on Saturday, 9 April 2005, at 1400 hours, to review 
the security situation and the need for another Town Hall 
meeting to further inform the broader American Community. 
Khoury