VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #1601/01 3111043
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071043Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0255

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001601 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER KU OTRA PREL COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR ADRIAN 
CRONAUER 
 
REF: SECDEFWASH 11010552 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Embassy Kuwait welcomes and hereby grants country 
clearance for Adrian Cronauer to travel to Kuwait November 
12-15 to support the Tripartite Commission. 
 
¶2.  (U)  This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; 
you must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. 
 
¶3.  (U)  Embassy Point of Contact:  Tom Rosenberger, Acting 
Political Section Chief.  Office Phone: 965-259-1495.  Mobile 
Phone: 965-978-3185.  Fax: 965-259-1051.  Email: 
RosenbergerTM@state.gov 
 
¶4.  (U)  Lodging:  One single room has been reserved at the 
Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait for two nights (November 
12-14, 2007; confirmation number is 576349628.  The hotel 
phone number is (965) 835-555 and the fax number is (965) 
244-9106.  The single room rate at the hotel is approximately 
USD 235 inclusive of 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 291.00 for lodging, plus a meal and incidental 
expense (M&IE) allowance of USD 105.00 for a total of USD 
396.00. 
 
¶5.  (U)  Following is post's 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. 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 10.00 (USD 35.00) 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 Iraqi-Kuwaiti border is not authorized 
without approval from the embassy and an appropriate escort. 
 
    c.  Embassy Kuwait's normal workweek is Sunday through 
Thursday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The time 
difference with the East Coast of the United States is EST 
plus 8 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: Visitors in November 
through 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. 
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. 
 
    f.  Money:  Credit cards are widely accepted in 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 2:00pm, 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 visitor's 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 PC's.  Breaches in 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. 
 
    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, don't 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 visitor's travel authorization is to be used 
for this purpose, this information must be spelled out in the 
travel orders and sufficient funding must be 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 traveler's 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 
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.  (U)  This cable was last updated on October 30, 2006. 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER