US embassy cable - 05CAIRO9168

S E C R E T CAIRO 009168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: DECL: 12/01/15 
TAGS: ASEC, EG 
SUBJECT: EGYPT FPCON MODIFICATION 
 
CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION STUART JONES FOR 
REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (C). 
 
1. (U) THE USDR, IN COORDINATION WITH THE CHIEF OF MISSION, 
DIRECTS A CHANGE OF FORCE PROTECTION CONDITION.  THE FPCON 
FOR THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT IS CHANGED FROM FPCON 
CHARLIE TO FPCON BRAVO.  ADDITIONALLY, THE FOLLOWING 
CHARLIE MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED: CHARLIE 4, CHARLIE 5, 
CHARLIE 7, CHARLIE 9, CHARLIE 10, CHARLIE 11, CHARLIE 12, 
AND CHARLIE 16.  CHARLIE 17 IS IMPLEMENTED FOR THE SINAI 
REGION. 
 
2. (S) CURRENT AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION NO LONGER 
INDICATES A SPECIFIC TERRORIST THREAT AGAINST US PERSONNEL 
IN EGYPT WHICH WOULD WARRANT FPCON CHARLIE.  WHILE REGIONAL 
EVENTS IN IRAQ AND JORDAN ARE OF A CONCERN, THERE IS NO 
EXTENT THREAT STREAM AGAINST US PERSONNEL OR FACILITIES IN 
EGYPT.  HOST NATION SECURITY SERVICES HAVE SHARED 
INFORMATION ON THE 23 JULY BOMBINGS IN SHARM EL SHEIKH AND 
CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE SECURITY OPERATIONS ON THE SINAI 
PENINSULA TO DISRUPT TERRORIST CELL OPERATIONS.  WHILE HOST 
NATION SECURITY SERVICES REPORT THEY HAVE APPREHENDED OR 
KILLED MOST OF THE OPERATIVES WHO CARRIED OUT THE ATTACK, 
THEIR INVESTIGATION CONTINUES WITH RESPECT TO THE BASE OF 
SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE.  VISIBLE SECURITY 
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INCREASED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, 
ESPECIALLY AT TOURIST DESTINATIONS.  WHILE THE POSSIBILITY 
EXISTS FOR AMERICANS TO BE TARGETED IN FUTURE ATTACKS 
AGAINST EGYPTIAN TOURIST RESORTS, THERE IS NO CREDIBLE 
REPORTING TO SUGGEST AMERICAN PERSONNEL ACTIVELY BEING 
TARGETED.  US INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WORKING AS A LIAISON 
WITH HOST NATION SERVICES MAINTAIN A CLOSE WORKING 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF MILITARY COOPERATION-EGYPT 
AND, IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE RSO, DAO, AND ORA, AGREE THAT 
CURRENT CONDITIONS DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO MAINTAIN 
FPCON CHARLIE.  THE CHANGE OF FPCON DOES NOT AFFECT THE 
CURRENT STATE DEPARTMENT RATINGS FOR EGYPT AS SET FORTH IN 
THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT THREAT LIST. 
 
3. (U) FOR THE ABOVE REASONS I CONSIDER THAT FPCON BRAVO IS 
APPROPRIATE AND IN HARMONY WITH CURRENT STATE DEPARTMENT 
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EGYPT. 
 
4. (U) THE POINT OF CONTACT IS COL JEFFREY VORDERMARK, 
OMC/DC OR CAPT JASON STEELMAN, OMC/FP, COMMERCIAL 011-2-02- 
797-3477, OR DSN 312-725-1440 EXT 3477. IF CONTACT IS 
NEEDED AFTER HOURS CONTACT MAY BE MADE THROUGH THE EMBASSY 
OPERATOR AT COMMERCIAL 011-2-02-797-3300 OR DSN 312-725- 
1440. 
 
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