US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1036

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001036 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX 
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 - 07/03/2005 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 1029 
     B. MUSCAT 1001 
 
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael G. Snowden. 
Reason: 1.4(c)(g). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) on July 3 to review the Embassy's 
security posture following 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 force protection condition (FPCON) remain appropriate. 
End Summary. 
 
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Local Security Situation 
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2.  (SBU)  On July 3, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the 
full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture following 
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.  Members, 
including Duty Officer, cited no security incidents among 
their staffs or family members over the weekend, while CONS 
confirmed that there were no reported security incidents or 
security-related queries from the private American citizen 
community. 
 
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Independence Day Celebration 
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3.  (C)  The EAC again reviewed security arrangements for the 
Embassy's official Independence Day event, scheduled for 
Monday, July 4, at the Intercontinental Muscat hotel.  RSO 
noted that a final walk-through with hotel security staff and 
Royal Oman Police (ROP) officials is scheduled for the 
morning of the event.  As previously reported (reftel B), ROP 
support will include extensive uniformed and plain-clothed 
coverage in and around the venue, to include EOD personnel, 
and the enforcement of a no-parking standoff zone. 
 
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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 changes 
in the local security environment since the last meeting held 
on June 29 (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.  AMB, A/DCM, 
MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, PAO, CONS, MSG, OMC (USDR), and Duty 
Officer participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE