US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1256

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001256 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/DSS/CC, CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/10/2005 
 
REF: A. IIR 4 201 3706 05 
     B. MUSCAT 1230 
 
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 August 10 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 force 
protection condition (FPCON) remain appropriate.  End Summary. 
 
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Security Environment 
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2.  (S/NF)  On August 10, 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.  SIMO did, however, raise regional 
reporting referencing Oman (reference A), which, similar to 
related reporting previously discussed by the EAC (reftel B), 
contained no/no new specific threat information.  NOTE: 
Reference A was passed to Omani services by SIMO.  END NOTE. 
 
3.  (S/NF)  RSO and SIMO noted that they remain in close 
contact with their Omani government counterparts, who 
continue to affirm that the security services maintain 
proactive control of the local security situation, but are 
nonetheless poised to respond to any threats that may 
surface.  On a related note, RSO commented on an August 9 
meeting with Royal Oman Police officials, in which the 
Director General of Operations echoed prior statements 
regarding the significant assets assigned specifically to 
safeguard American personnel and interests. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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4.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, and consistent 
with the Department's most recent Public Announcements 
(reftel B), 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 and situationally 
aware.  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 August 6 (reftel B).  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, A/MGT, RSO, ARSO, SIMO, CONS, PAO, DAO, OMC 
(USDR), ECA (USCENTAF), and Duty Officer participated in the 
meeting. 
BALTIMORE