US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT818

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000818 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/18/2005 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 0778 
 
     B. MUSCAT 0711 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
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 18 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 18, 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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Upcoming Events 
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3.  (SBU)  In conjunction with a review of upcoming community 
events, DAO briefed the EAC on preparations for the arrival 
of the USS Camden, scheduled to dock at Port Sultan Qaboos 
from May 19-21 (reftel B).  Force protection and security for 
the ship visit is being coordinated directly with the Royal 
Oman Police (Coast Guard) by DAO and NCIS personnel. 
 
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Sustained 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 - 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 14 (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, P/E, MGT, RSO, RMAS, PAO, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR), 
and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE