VZCZCXRO2834
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0412/01 0811727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221727Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8564
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000412 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA AMGT AFIN ABUD ASEC KAWC KU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR INTERAGENCY 
DELEGATION ON DETAINEE ISSUES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 36382 
 
¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country 
clearance for Chris Camponovo (NSC), Alan Liotta (DoD), 
Marisa Porges (DoD), and Andrew Morrison, (DoS) to travel 
to post o/a March 23-25, 2007.  The purpose of the 
interagency delegation's visit is to consult with Kuwait 
government officials on detainee policy and related issues. 
 
¶2.  This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; you 
must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. 
 
¶3.  Visit Officer: 
 
Mr. DeWitt Conklin, Political Officer 
Office (965) 259-1533 
Cell (965) 936-4497 
Fax (965) 259-1051 
Unclass E-Mail: conklindc@state.gov 
 
SIPDIS 
EMBASSY EXPEDITOR WILL MEET AND ASSIST UPON ARRIVAL. 
 
¶4.  Lodging:  Four single rooms have been reserved at the 
Radisson SAS Hotel for two nights, March 23-24, 2007; 
confirmation numbers are 364278/364279/364280/364281.  The 
hotel phone number is (965) 575-6000 and the fax number is 
(965) 575-0155.  The single room rate at the hotel is 
approximately USD 231 plus 15% service charge per night, 
which includes breakfast.  The hotel accepts major credit 
cards and is within the per diem rate.  The daily per diem 
rate for Kuwait is USD 260.00 for lodging, plus a meal and 
incidental expense (M&IE) allowance of USD 96.00 for a total 
of USD 356.00. 
 
¶5.  Following is posts standard guidance for visitors to 
Kuwait: 
 
   a. Entry Requirements:  Kuwait now issues single-entry 
visas to American citizens on arrival, upon presentation of a 
valid passport.  There is a processing fee of three (3) 
Kuwaiti Dinar (KD 3.000, approximately USD 10.50) for each 
visa issued.  The fee may be paid either in KD or 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 location 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 visa expiration.  Anyone departing 
Kuwait who has overstayed the visa will be charged a fine of 
KD 10.000 (USD 33.50) per day at the airport.  All travelers 
planning to visit Iraq should make sure that they obtain the 
required 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. 
 
   b. 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 Iraq-Kuwait border is not authorized without 
approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort. 
 
   c. Embassy Kuwaits normal workweek is Saturday through 
Wednesday, and office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
The time difference with the East Coast of the United States 
is EST plus eight hours. The embassy switchboard number is 
(965) 259-1001, and the IVG number is 4950000. The after- 
hours number which rings at Marine Guard Post One is (965) 
538-2098.  The mission duty officer can be reached through 
the embassy switchboard, Post One or by cell phone at (965) 
967-7265. The embassy pouch address is 6200 Kuwait Place, 
Dulles, VA 20189-6200. 
 
   d. 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. 
 
   e. Health Advisory for Kuwait: April through October is 
 
KUWAIT 00000412  002 OF 003 
 
 
the hot season in Kuwait. Temperatures reach 120-140F 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 
noon to 3:00 p.m. (1200-1500). 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 from November to March 
can expect cold winds and, at times, heavy rains.  Light 
winter clothing is suitable for Kuwait during these months. 
At this time, allergies and colds are more common, and 
visitors to the area are advised to bring over-the-counter 
medications, such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen and cough medicine, 
with them for self-treatment. 
 
   f. Money:  Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, 
restaurants and other establishments throughout Kuwait and 
ATM machines are also readily available. For travelers on 
official orders, the Commercial Bank of Kuwait can provide 
accommodation services (cashing a personal check drawn on a 
U.S. bank into local currency) up to a maximum of USD 300.00 
per day from noon to 2:00 p.m., Saturday through Wednesday. 
At the current rate of exchange, one Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is 
equivalent to approximately USD 3.50. 
 
   g. 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 visitors 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. 
 
   h. Computer and Electronics Usage: Sensitive military 
information has been discovered 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 PCs.  Breaches on COMPUSEC will result 
in the violator receiving security infractions and/or 
security violations.  Interagency 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. 
 
   i. Photography:  Tourist photography is encouraged in 
Kuwait.  However, it is strictly forbidden to photograph 
public buildings, economic infrastructure, or military and 
other security-related facilities and personnel. 
Confiscation of film and camera and even arrest may result 
from doing so.  A good rule of thumb:  If there is any doubt 
as to whether a photograph should be taken, dont take it. 
 
   j. Action Request:  Each visitor, regardless of length of 
stay, must bring or forward fiscal data to pay for direct 
costs of the visit.  Each agency, organization or visiting 
delegation will be charged for the actual costs attributed to 
their visit.  Direct charge costs include, but are not 
limited to:  American and LES staff overtime (e.g., 
expeditor, accommodation exchange, representational event 
support), field travel, lodging and meals and incidental 
expenses (M&IE) by embassy employees, vehicle rentals, long- 
distance telephone calls, equipment rentals, office supplies 
and all other costs that are directly attributable to the 
visit.  If fiscal data on a travelers authorization is to be 
used for this purpose, this information must be spelled out 
in the travel orders and sufficient funding provided to meet 
these expenses.  In addition, for TDYers over thirty (30) 
days, there will be a charge for ICASS support services.  If 
your sponsoring agency is not signed up for ICASS services at 
post, please be prepared to sign an ICASS Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) for ICASS support services upon arrival. 
The agency should provide post with written communication, 
generated by the travelers headquarters, that confirms the 
agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provide the 
agency ICASS billing code for the TDY support to be provided, 
and authorize the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice 
 
KUWAIT 00000412  003 OF 003 
 
 
generated by the TDY module.  When travel is urgent, TDYers 
should bring this document with them to ensure there are no 
interruptions in the provision of services.  Post will not 
provide any services to a TDYer staying in excess of 30 days 
without having received this documentation prior to day 31 of 
the TDY. 
k. Visit Kuwait's unclassified intranet website at 
http://kuwait.state.gov. 
 
¶6.  This cable was last updated on October 30, 2006. 
 
LeBaron