US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT768

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000768 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/EX, AND NEA/ARPI 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/11/2005 
 
REF: MUSCAT 0752 
 
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 Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) on May 11 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 May 11, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the 
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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Emergency Preparedness 
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3.  (SBU)  In conjunction with the EAC's ongoing dialogue on 
avenues to sustain the Embassy's security posture, RSO 
reviewed the mission-wide drills conducted over the past 
year.  Based on the chronology, the EAC agreed on the 
necessity of an unannounced "duck and cover" drill prior to 
the month's end. 
 
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Personal Security 
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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 - to include 
maintaining a low profile and remaining unpredictable.  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 May 7 (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.  AMB, DCM, P/E, MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, CONS, PAO, ISO 
(Duty Officer), DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) 
participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE