VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #3518/01 2420724
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300724Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6500
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0671

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003518 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA S/I SANFORD AND NEA/ARP JACKSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA OVIP PREL KU COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR IRAQ STUDY 
GROUP 
 
REF: STATE 135431 
 
¶1. (SBU)  Embassy Kuwait welcomes and grants country 
clearance for the 16-member Iraq Study Group to transit 
Kuwait on August 31 and September 3, 2006. 
 
¶2. (U)  This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; 
you must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. 
 
¶3. (U)  No hotel reservations have been made.  Embassy 
Officers will meet and assist the delegation at Ali Al Salem 
Air Base. 
 
The 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 day-trip 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)  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.  (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 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. (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. 
 
¶9.  (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. 
 
 
¶10. (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 
U.S. military policy since January 2005, and having no cases 
of malaria reported to date in U.S. 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.  (U)  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 requester 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.  (U)  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.  (U)  Sensitive military information 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 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.  (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. 
 
¶15.  (U)  The time difference with the East Coast of the 
United States is EDT plus 7 hours. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
LeBaron