VZCZCXYZ0094
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #0247/01 0660601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060601Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0911

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000247 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KU OTRA PREL AMGT ASEC OREP COUNTRYCLEARANCE
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR THE GULF 
SECURITY DIALOGUE SUPPLEMENTAL TEAM 
 
REF: SECSTATE 22729 
 
¶1. Embassy Kuwait welcomes and grants country clearance for 
Brig Gen Robin Rand and Col Thomas Henwood to travel to 
Kuwait City, Kuwait for the Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) 
talks which will be held on March 10, 2008. 
 
¶2. This clearance is not/not valid for entry into Iraq; you 
must apply for Iraq clearance through Embassy Baghdad. 
 
¶3. Visit Officer: An Embassy visit officer and a 
driver/expeditor will meet and assist you at the airport. 
 
Jason Khile, Political Officer 
Office- (965) 259-1533 
Cell- (965) 942-4087 
Fax- (965) 259-1051 
Unclass e-mail: KhileJB@state.gov 
 
SIPDIS 
 
¶4. Lodging: Two additional single rooms have been reserved at 
the Radisson SAS Hotel for March 9, 2008.  The hotel 
telephone number is (965) 575-6000 and the fax number is 
(965)565-2999. The single room rate at the hotel is 
approximately USD 277.00 per night(plus 15% service charge), 
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 306.00 for lodging, plus a meal and 
incidental expense (M&IE) allowance of USD 114.00 for a total 
of USD 420.00. 
 
¶5. 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, or USD 12.00) 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 (US 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 
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. 
 
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, 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:  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 11:00 to 1:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. At 
the current rate of exchange, one Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is 
equivalent to approximately USD 3.7. 
 
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 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, 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 a traveler's 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 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. 
 
********************************************* * 
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