US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT699

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000699 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, 
AND NEA/ARPI 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/ICI/CI, DS/OPO/FPD, DS/ICI/PII 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/27/2005 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 0683 
 
     B. MUSCAT 0662 
     C. MUSCAT 0648 
 
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 Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core 
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 27 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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Local Security Situation 
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2.  (SBU)  On April 27, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of 
the core 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/no new threat reporting specific to Oman. 
 
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TAISM Surveillance Incident 
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3.  (SBU)  The RSO briefed the EAC on his most recent meeting 
with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) to discuss the April 18 
surveillance incident which occurred at The American 
International School of Muscat (TAISM) (reftels A-C).  During 
the April 27 meeting, the ROP's Director General (DG) of 
Operations advised RSO that the suspected surveillant was 
identified as the grandfather of an Omani national student of 
TAISM (school officials confirmed the student's current 
enrollment).  Sharing contents of the case file with RSO, the 
DG also confirmed that the individual's actions were not/not 
surveillance-related.  Based on the ROP's findings, and 
evidence presented, the EAC considers the issue resolved. 
Case closure will be sent via septel. (CT13-0405-328-0782) 
 
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Continued Vigilance 
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4.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated 
that, despite the relative calm, 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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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 April 24 (reftel A).  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.  ABM, DCM, P/E, MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, CONS, DAO, OMC 
(USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE