VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #3236/01 2240952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120952Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6203
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0659

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003236 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE FOR 3131/ITA/USFCS/ANESA/OIO/RD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXPASECBMGTOTRASFIZKU COUNTRY CLEARANCE
 
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY- Country Clearance for Commercial Officer 
Mitch Larsen 
 
REF: USDOC 4365 
 
¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country clearance for 
Commercial Officer Mitch Larsen to travel to Kuwait from August 17 
to August 19, 2006. 
 
¶2. CORRECTION: Embassy point of contact is: 
 
Irma La Pore 
Office- 965/259-1001 x 1468 
Direct - 965/259-1468 
Cell - 965/936-9905 
Fax - 965/259-1271 
Unclassified E-Mail: irma.lapore@mail.doc.gov 
 
SIPDIS 
 
¶3. CORRECTION: Traveler has booked billeting and milair to Baghdad 
via the Federal Deployment Center (FDC) at the Hilton. Upon arrival, 
traveler should go the FDC/KBR office at the commercial airport, 
located outside the side door of the arrivals hall (adjacent to the 
grocery store). He can then catch the shuttle to the FDC at the 
Hilton. 
 
¶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.  There is a processing 
fee of 2 KD for each visa issued.  The fee may be paid either in KD 
or USD (approximately 7 USD).  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. 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 (action request): Each visitor to Embassy Kuwait must 
bring or forward fiscal data to cover costs incurred during the 
visit. 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 and 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: 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. 
 
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, Tamim 
(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 
Social Security Number, 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: Sensitive military has been 
located recently on business center computers at local hotels in 
Kuwait City.  All U.S. Government personnel and contractors must 
remember that it is their responsibility to observe good computer 
and information security practices.  Information processed on 
computers in hotel business centers, through email 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 on COMPUSEC will result 
in the violator receiving security infractions and/or security 
violations.  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. Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Saturday through Wednesday. 
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. switchboard number is (965) 
259-1001, IVG: 4950000. The after hours number which rings at Marine 
Guard post one is (965) 538-2098. 
 
¶14.  The time difference with the East Coast of the United States is 
EDT plus 7 hours. 
 
TUELLER