US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT850

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000850 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/SPP/EP, CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/25/2005 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 0834 
 
     B. SECSTATE 080885 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(g). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action 
Committee (EAC) on May 25 to review the Embassy's security 
posture prior to the local holiday 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 25, the CDA chaired a meeting of the core 
EAC to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the 
local holiday 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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Change and Emergency Planning 
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3.  (C)  In conjunction with the EAC's ongoing dialogue on 
avenues to reduce complacency and sustain the Embassy's 
heightened security posture, RSO readdressed the potential 
value of change, as it relates to both physical and 
procedural security.  Specifically, the EAC concurred with an 
RSO proposal to vary vehicle search procedures as often as 
practical.  It was noted that such change serves to create 
added variables likely to complicate attack planning, should 
undetected surveillance exist.  RSO also used the opportunity 
to discuss the EAC's progress on the updating of the 
Embassy's Emergency Action Plan, due on June 30 (reftel B). 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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4.  (SBU)  CDA and 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. 
 
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EAC Conclusion 
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5.  (SBU)  The EAC concluded that there have been no 
substantive changes in the local security environment since 
the last meeting, held on May 21 (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.  CDA, A/DCM, MGT, RSO, PAO, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR), and 
ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
SNOWDEN