US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT620

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000620 
 
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 - 04/13/2005 
 
REF: MUSCAT 0584 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(c). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action 
Committee (EAC) April 13 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 Situation 
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2.  (SBU)  On April 13, the CDA chaired a meeting of the full 
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.  Members of the EAC noted no/no new 
threat reporting specific to Oman. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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3.  (SBU)  Referring to recent FBIS reporting, which 
describes a hypothetical scenario for attempting to 
assassinate an official working at U.S. Embassy Manama, RSO 
stated 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 - specifically 
varying routes and times.  RSO advised that he will 
re-disseminate the DS Personal Security Self-Assessment 
Checklist to all Embassy Personnel and their Eligible Family 
Members as a reminder.  RSO further emphasized to the 
committee the importance of immediately reporting all 
suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. 
 
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EAC Conclusion 
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4.  (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 
April 9 (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.  CDA, RSO, 
ARSO, RMAS, MGT, PAO, P/E, CONS, MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR), and 
ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
STEWART