Cablegate: (Sbu) Kuwait Grants Country Clearance for John Hannah

VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #4093/01 2871121
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141121Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7159
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0694
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP KU IZ COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: (SBU) KUWAIT GRANTS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR JOHN HANNAH
AND ROBERT KAREM (16-22 OCT 2006)

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

REF: A) KAREM-HIGI 10/14/06 EMAIL B) STATE 172718

1. (SBU) Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country clearance
for John Hannah and Robert Karem to travel to post o/a 16 to 22
October 2006.

2. (U) This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; you must
apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad.

3. (SBU) Hotel reservations have been made for 17 and 21 October, at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the rate of 66.000 KD plus 15%
(approximately USD 260) per night for single rooms, which includes a
buffet breakfast. The per diem rate for Kuwait is USD 260 plus M&IE
of USD 96 for a total of USD 356. The hotel phone number is
(965)474-2000; fax number (965)473-2020. An Embassy visit officer
and a driver/expeditor will meet and assist you at the airport.

Embassy point of contact is:

Carri Mowry, Coordinator ISU
Office- (965) 259-1419
Cell- (965) 973-9854
Fax- (965) 259-1190
Unclass e-mail: MowryCA@state.gov

SIPDIS

4. (U) Following is post's standard guidance for visitors to Kuwait:
Kuwait now issues single-entry visas to American citizens on
arrival, upon presentation of a passport. Post strongly advises
travelers to carry some documentation on the purpose of their visit.
Passengers arriving on other than commercial flights should
anticipate extra delays, because immigration services are not
available on the military side of the airfield and passports have to
be carried to a different site at the airport for processing.
Airport visas are valid for 90 days after arrival; anyone staying
beyond this period must obtain an extension, which should be
requested 2 weeks prior to expiration. Anyone departing Kuwait who
has overstayed the visa will be charged a fine of KD 10 (US$33.50)
per day at the airport. All travelers planning to visit Iraq should
make sure that they obtain exit/entry stamps for each transit
through Kuwait, and be aware that they will need to obtain a new
Kuwaiti visa upon return, even after a daytrip to Baghdad. Failure
to do so can result in heavy fines. If possible, travelers should
try to obtain a multiple-entry visa before arriving in Kuwait.

5. (U) Visitors are reminded that the importation of alcohol, pork
products, personal firearms, and any suggestive/pornographic
materials (videotapes, magazines or books) is strictly prohibited by
Kuwaiti law. Kuwait is still clearing mines and munitions. Visitors
must remain on major paved roads when traveling in Kuwait. Travel
North of Jahra toward the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is not authorized
without approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort.

6. (U) Holy Month of Ramadan: Your visit takes place during the
Holy Month of Ramadan, which will be observed o/a September 23
through October 21/22, 2006. It is against the law in Kuwait for
anyone to eat, drink or smoke in public, including inside vehicles,
between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Business slows down for
this month and government offices, as well as many private
businesses, work shorter hours. Muslims must work a full day
without so much as a sip of water. The result is that people may
become tired, tense, and easily irritated during the normal workday,
especially during the later weeks of Ramadan. One must be extra
alert when driving, particularly during the late afternoon when many
will be rushing home to break the fast.

7. (SBU) Threat Assessment: Kuwait is a high-threat post and the
military threatcon is currently Charlie. We have increased security
precautions at official U.S. installations in Kuwait and recommend
that all Americans in Kuwait remain alert to their surroundings and
review their personal security practices.

8. (U) Fiscal Data: Thank you for providing fiscal data. Each
agency, organization, delegation or visiting individual will be
charged for all costs attributed to their visit. These costs
include, but are not limited to: LES and American staff overtime,
vehicle and equipment rental, office and medical supplies, telephone
calls, expeditor services, airport transportation other mileage
driven, and representational events. If fiscal data on visitor's
travel authorization is to be used for this purpose, it must be
clearly spelled out and sufficient funding must be provided.

9. (U) Health Unit: All TDY or PCS personnel that would like to be
vaccinated against smallpox should get the vaccine in M/MED in
Washington before coming to post. The smallpox vaccine for
pre-exposure vaccination is not available at post. There are
prepositioned doses of smallpox vaccine at post to be used only if
an actual exposure occurs. The smallpox vaccine is being offered to

personnel that are coming to work at Embassy Kuwait as a strictly
voluntary protection in case of a possible biological attack.

10. (U) Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October is the
hot season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120?-140?F in summer.
Caution should be taken to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion
by 1) drinking plenty of fluids and 2) staying indoors, especially
during peak temperature hours of 12:00-15:00. Low humidity coupled
with high temperatures creates excessive moisture loss from
evaporation. It is necessary to drink 2-4 quarts of water daily to
prevent dehydration.

11. (U) Health Advisory for Iraq: Remember to bring adequate
medications and to be current on vaccines as getting medical
supplies in Iraq has been difficult. Consistent with US military
policy since January 2005, and having no cases of malaria reported
to date in US Embassy personnel, malaria prophylaxis is not
routinely recommended for Iraq. Vivax malaria historically exists in
the northern provinces of Duhok, Erbil, Ninawa, Sulaimaniya, Tmim
(May-October), and in the south around Basrah (April-November).
There is no risk in Baghdad. Individuals that travel to those areas
need to continue to check current embassy recommendations. Malaria
must be a consideration in anyone with a fever who has traveled to
those areas. To protect against insect bites, use insect
repellants, long clothing and other measures to prevent insect
bites.

12. (SBU) CAA Access: Visitors who need unescorted access into
secure areas of the mission must slug cables to the attention of the
RSO, and include the level of their clearance. The cable should
include the social security number of the requestor and the name of
the agency granting the clearance. Cables should include the ASEC
tag to ensure distribution to the RSO office and the Marine Security
guard at post one.

13. (SBU) Computer and Electronics usage: Inter-agency security
standards prohibit the introduction or use of non-USG owned computer
hardware and software at all USG diplomatic facilities. Cell phones,
palm pilots, radios and other convenience electronics are prohibited
in all secure areas of the mission.

14. (SBU) Sensitive military information has been located recently
on business center computers at local hotels in Kuwait City. All US
Government personnel and contractors must remember that it is their
responsibility to observe good computer and information security
practices. Information processed on computers and hotel business
centers, through e-mail correspondence or document creation, is
highly exploitable. Public computers located in hotel business
centers, internet cafes, airport lounges, etc. should never be used
to process, store or disseminate sensitive information. Compromise
of sensitive government or military information can result in
serious damage to national security. Compromises of sensitive
personal data can result in significant personal and financial
hardship. Random checks are conducted by Embassy personnel on
public PC's. Breaches in COMPUSEC will result in the violator
receiving security infractions and/or security violations.

15. (U) Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Saturday through
Wednesday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. switchboard
numbers are (965) 259-1001, IVG: 495-0000. The after hours number
which rings at Marine Guard Post One is (965) 538-2098.

16. (U) The time difference with the East Coast of the United States
is EDT plus 7 hours.

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Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/

You can also access the site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.
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