BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2008

Reference ID 08BEIRUT1450
Date 2008-10-07 05:13
Released 2010-12-01 19:07
Classification SECRET//NOFORN
Origin Embassy Beirut


VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLB #1450 2811713
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 071713Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3228
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 4365
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1311
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 3728
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 3461
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1358


S E C R E T BEIRUT 001450

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR DS/CC; DS/DSS/ITA; DS/IP/NEA; NEA/EX; S/ES
POSTS FOR RSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: ASEC, CASC, LE, MOPS, PTER, SY
SUBJECT: BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2008

REF: A. A) BEIRUT 1414
B. B) BEIRUT 1441

Classified By: RSO Tom Depenbrock for reason 1.5 (c)

1. (S) DCM convened a meeting of the Emergency Action
Committee (EAC) on October 7 to discuss the embassy's
security posture in light of the latest threat information
and security arrangements for the upcoming Made in America
Expo in Beirut October 9-11 and related events. The
following EAC members were present during the meeting: DCM,
POL/ECON, RAO, RSO, AID, DAO, INL, MGMT, CONS, CLO and PAO.
The Made in America expo is sponsored by USFCS and will be
held at the BIEL conference center. On October 9, the
American-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce will host an opening
dinner in the top-story resturant of the Phoenicia Hotel.

2. (S) RAO opined that there is no "specific" threat
information directed at the embassy or USG interests at this
time. RSO briefed EAC of the extensive security plans for the
Made in American event, including his meeting that day with
Lebanese authorities in which confirmed the security
arrangements described in post's last EAC message, ref b.
RSO announced that all motorcade movements to the various
locations will be staggered and routes varied in order to
prevent a bottleneck of embassy vehicles at the entry points.
RSO informed the EAC that the host nation Internal Security
Force (ISF) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have been
extremely cooperative in providing addtional support in
response to RSO's requests. Other, unofficial moves off the
compound likely will be curtailed on October 9th. RSO
reported that the Phoenicia Hotel normally has a high level
of security and that RSO staff would be meeting with hotel
officials later that day to review security procedures for
the dinner.

3. (S) EAC determined that, given the current assessment of
the threat level and the security arrangements in place, the
Made in America events should go ahead as planned. Regarding
a fashion show slated to take place October 11 at the Aishti
Department store, EAC decided that no more than three
Americans should attend in order to reduce the visibility of
official Americans.


SISON



Source: Wikileaks