US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1541

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001541 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/SPC/MSG, DS/DSS/CC, CA/OCS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, KMSG, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/15/2005 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 1532 
     B. SECSTATE 178699 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. 
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 October 15 to review the Embassy's 
security posture following the local weekend, and to discuss 
security preparations for the upcoming 230th U.S. Marine 
Corps Birthday Ball.  Noting no substantive changes in the 
local security environment since the last meeting, members 
agreed to move forward with the ball.  Members further 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 October 15, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of 
the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture 
following the local weekend, and to discuss security 
preparations for the 230th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball. 
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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USMC Birthday Ball 
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3.  (C)  Pursuant to reftel B, RSO led a review of security 
preparations for the 230th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball, 
to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Muscat on 
November 16.  RSO advised that security for the event, which 
the EAC concurred was appropriate to hold, will include 
extensive uniformed and plain-clothed Royal Oman Police (ROP) 
coverage in and around the venue, as well as EOD support and 
the enforcement of a no parking zone.  Surveillance Detection 
Unit assets will also provide support.  RSO staff and MSG 
personnel will meet with the ROP's Special Task Force and 
InterContinental management with increasing frequency as the 
ball approaches. 
 
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Other Upcoming Events 
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4.  (SBU)  In conjunction with a review of other upcoming 
community events, RSO commented that security coordination 
for The American International School of Muscat's Fall 
Festival, scheduled for October 26, is underway.  RSO noted 
that security support for the event, which is expected to 
host approximately 450 guests, has been formally requested 
from the ROP. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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5.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, the Ambassador 
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 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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6.  (S/NF)  The EAC concluded that there have been no 
substantive changes in the local security environment since 
the last meeting held on October 12 (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, DCM, P/E, A/MGT, RSO, ARSO, SIMO, PAO, CONS, ECA 
(USCENTAF), and Duty Officer participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE