US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1580

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001580 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR D, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, INR, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/22/2005 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 194464 
     B. MUSCAT 1578 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(c)(d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency 
Action Committee (EAC) on October 22 to review the Embassy's 
security posture following 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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Local Security Environment 
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2.  (SBU)  On October 22, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of 
the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture 
following the local weekend.  The EAC noted no/no new threat 
reporting specific to Oman, and continued to characterize the 
local security situation as stable.  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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Response to Press Allegations 
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3.  (C)  Pursuant to reftel A, members did, however, discuss 
what impact the alleged abuse of human remains by U.S. 
soldiers in Afghanistan may have on the local security 
environment.  Referring to relatively slim press coverage 
thus far, members agreed that the reported allegations are 
not expected to resonate significantly with the Omani 
population.  As a result, the issuance of a specific warden 
message was not recommended. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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4.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, 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.  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 October 19 (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, P/E, A/MGT, RSO, ARSO (Duty Officer), SIMO, 
PAO, CONS, MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) 
participated in the meeting. 
BALTIMORE