Cablegate: Kuwait Country Clearance Granted for Jane Ellen

VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #4288/01 3041254
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311254Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0716
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7390

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004288

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA APER JO IZ KU PINS
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR JANE ELLEN
BAGWELL AND JASON WILSON

REF: BAGHDAD 004060

1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and grants country clearance for
Ms. Jane Ellen Bagwell and Mr. Jason Wilson to travel to post
o/a 3 November to 11 November, 2006.

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

3. As requested, no ground support services or hotel
reservations have been arranged. Embassy point of contact
is:

DeWitt Conklin, Political Officer
Office- (965) 259-1533
Cell- (965) 936-4497
Fax- (965) 259-1051
Unclass e-mail: ConklinDC@state.gov

SIPDIS

4. 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 Ba ghdad. 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. 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. 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.

7. 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 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.

8. 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.

9. Health Advisory for Kuwait: Visitors in November through
March can expect cold winds and at times heavy rains. Light
winter clothing is suitable for Kuwait. At this time
allergies and colds are more common. Persons traveling to the
area are advised to have over-the-counter medications, such
as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cold and cough medications with them
for self-treatment.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. The time difference with the East Coast of the United
States is EST plus 8 hours.
********************************************* *
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.
********************************************* *
LeBaron

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