Security for Saudi ARAMCO compounds

This is from an email I rec'd from an Ex-aramcon. It purports to be two emails exchanged between ARAMCO manageers.

There are contract "hired guns" available. Ex-SAS, US Special Forces and ex-CIA operatives have set up private security firms. We should consider hiring these chaps. We want a team who can take action within minutes and take out permanently any unauthorized armed intrusion.

The exodus of ex-pats has begun. Many of those leaving are close to retirement or have young families. So we lose our experience and our most energetic in one sweep. The former have made their money and will be harder to convince to stay. The latter group I can speak for as I have two young children. The security of our wives and children is paramount. We need to have armed guards around the schools, and we also need to erect more barricades. I also suggest having armed security guards on the school bus. School buses have been a favorite target in Israel. We need to have the school buses inspected several times a day for bombs. The latest bombs are very small, can magnetically clamp onto the bottom of a vehicle and have mercury switches that trigger with vibration. Also we have to have security drive the school bus route several times a day to prevent landmines being laid. Remember that mines today can be the size of a small plate and when loaded with semtex will have no odor whatsoever. (Having grown up close to the border with Northern Ireland, I am speaking from experience).

Give fathers the freedom to keep their families OOK until this blows over. Financial incentives should be considered. Special bachelor status, two extra re-pats a year, whatever it takes to keep people. We may want to set up a camp/housing in Bahrain or Dubai for wives and children and have husbands commute on weekends. So we all move onto a Tanagib style of existence. Tough and expensive measures, but maybe worth considering.

What really broke the backs of the IRA in Ireland was a little known anti-terrorist force known as the MRF (Military Reconnaissance Force or more popularly known as the Mission Reaction Force). The MRF was a highly trained team of military operatives whose main function was to infiltrate the IRA and their communications network. By 1990, most of the leading Provos could not sneeze without the MRF knowing about it. I suggest that the Saudi Government ask the British for help, counter terrorism is their forte. The quietest regions in Iraq are the ones the Brits control.

Drop the restriction on not being able to hold your plant card and passport simultaneously; we want the option to get our wife and kids OOK (Bahrain) at a moments notice.

Have top management talk to the ex-pats on a regular basis, we are a week into the crisis and nobody has publicly talked directly to employees. Set up regular townhalls so that employees can voice their feelings. It is a great way to diffuse problems early. (PS Have the meeting room well guarded------ we don't want a turkey shoot either!).

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 3:06 PM
To: XXX, XXX; XXXX, XXXXX
Subject: Security Concerns and Suggestions
Importance: High

I applaud the formation of the security task force and expectations are high for rapid and significant actions. Ahmad asked me to send concerns and ideas to him, but I understand the task force is meeting over the weekend so I came in to send my thoughts directly to you both.

· I believe this is a new level and type of threat to the Kingdom and to expatriate employees. The specific targeting of oil industry workers and non-muslims in the Eastern province presents a clear danger to Saudi Aramco's expatriates. The ultimate goal is to harm the Saudi government by disrupting Saudi oil operations and, thereby, disrupt the global economy.

· Security at Saudi Aramco residential facilities is completely inadequate against the type of attack that occurred at the Oasis compound. Terrorists that take hostages, kill hostages and then barter for their escape are a new threat that the compounds are not protected against. We can fortify our gates as much as we want and have no deterrent effect on attackers entering the compound through miles of lightly protected hurricane fence. Residents can be seen, and shot, through these fences from KFUPM or many locations along the perimeter. The gates don't have to be approached.

· Existing expatriate workers provide significant contributions to help Saudi Aramco and Saudi Arabia to meet commitments to the Kingdom and to the world. Retention of existing expatriates and attraction of new expatriates is a critical success factor for the Company and the Kingdom. To fail to retain and attract the non-Saudi knowledge and experience will cause significant risk to staying a reliable oil supplier for the world. If there is a large exodus of expats from Saudi Aramco, the ability to sustain and increase output will be impacted and the confidence of global oil markets in the Kingdom's ability to deliver will be impacted.

· We do not have full control of events and cannot completely control future events or outcomes. However, we have a huge obligation to our employees, Company, country and the world to do absolutely all that we can to provide security to people, assets and markets. Otherwise, the terrorists win.

I believe we agree on the assumptions above or the task force would not have been formed. To be effective the task force must be fast and decisive in making significant and visible changes. On a personal note, I believe I have a fairly objective viewpoint as a loanee. I also attend weekly ChevronTexaco regional security teleconferences. I am here for the same reasons most expats are here; money, interesting work and lifestyle. The lifestyle has not been attractive since 9/11 and is highly unattractive since last week. So what remains is risk versus reward. The taskforce must significantly reduce risk and significantly increase flexibility and compensation for risk to attract and retain expatriates. This will take hundreds of millions of dollars or, put another way, one day of revenue. This is business, and emotions should not drive any of this. Would any business spend one day of revenue per year (or in our case one day of profit) to protect the entire business? The answer is yes, without hesitation.

My recommendations are divided into 2 parts, Reduce Risk and Compensation for Risk.

1. There must be rapid, significant and visible increase in security at the gates and perimeters. The two most important changes are:

a. A world class, terrorism-trained, fully armed, security force inside the residential compounds. They should be visible 24/7 and be able form swat teams to address any situation immediately (which will require a much better communication and alert system). Aramco and Saudi Arabian forces are completely inadequate in terms of training, capability and motivation. They will have to be outside forces paid to risk their life to protect what they are hired to protect. I recommend that Ghurkas be considered. ChevronTexaco security in London believes the idea has merit and may pursue it themselves in the Kingdom. I realize this violates all sorts of laws in the Kingdom; the task force must convince the government that business as usual is going to lose them the business. Laws and regulations must be changed to prevail over terrorism.

b. The perimeter must be completely upgraded. The first choice would massive 10 foot walls with built-in guard posts staffed with the previously mentioned armed security force to effectively monitor the entire perimeter 24/7. The size of the perimeter may need to be significantly reduced if it is to be fortified and monitored this way.

2. Consider complete exclusion of non-residents from the residential area, including visitors. Security must know exactly who is in the residential compound at all times. This includes NO visitors of any kind, including employees and family. Highly regulate and monitor any Company work in the residential areas. This would be highly inconvenient for residents but so what. You are going to need the full cooperation of residents in their protection. Anyone, Saudi or expat, who does not comply fully with the new security rules would be expelled from the compound. It is a privilege, not an entitlement to live on this compound and it is completely unnecessary to have visitors inside the residential area. Residents would go out of the residential area to visit non-residents. This "locked down" status could apply all the time or only in high alert times.

3. To have thorough security checks at the gates without creating major traffic jams, we should implement staggered work hours. People could choose any of the following 7 work schedules for normal office work; 5:30-2:30, 6-3, 6:30-3:30, 7-4,7:30-4:30, 8-5, or 8:30-5:30. This is harder to administer but better for security checks.

4. Security guards must be trained by outside experts in how to effectively search people and vehicles. Looking in the trunk is a waste of time. Residential security guards should be outside people, as recommended in 1a.

5. Build parking lots outside the core area and prohibit non-Company vehicles from entering the work area (they are already not entering the residential areas due to recommendation 2). Provide bus transportation from the lots to work buildings.

6. Consolidate work buildings and eliminate or fortify any work buildings outside the core area. East Park is too risky to maintain. West Park should have a huge barricade and better security implemented immediately. Build new highly secure office buildings if needed.

7. It has been suggested by many Americans that expats should be allowed to have guns for home protection either inside their home or inside the residential area. This may sound bizarre, but it would actually make the security situation more like home for Americans. Residential militias are highly motivated to protect their families and homes. I realize this is a less practical, but it would be effective in making many Americans feel more safe.

These are huge changes and the residential compounds would look and feel like prisons. The security upgrades must be visible to the residents. If the changes are also visible to the terrorists, that's another good deterrent. We have far more resources at our disposal than the terrorists and we should be showing overwhelming force to them as normal policy. This approach is used in other countries where there is significant risk to residents.

1. Significantly increase the foreign service premium paid to expats(approximately double the current premium would be appropriate) and consider an expatriate retention bonus in addition to the higher FSP. There is a huge competitive gap that small increases are not going to address. Saudi Aramco's foreign service premium (FSP) is far lower than competition, and that is before the risk has escalated. ChevronTexaco's and ExxonMobil's FSP for high paid people has a maximum of $40-45K, tax free. Saudi Aramco's max was just raised from $24.5K to $29K last year. The other IOC's are considering raising the FSP due to the higher risk from the current competitive range of $40-50K/yr and/or implementing a temporary hazard premium above normal FSP. Saudi Aramco's foreign service premium should be the highest, not the lowest. We may lose expats to IOCs when they start operating here due to superior pay packages. There is significantly higher risk for expats here even if all of the security recommendations above are implemented. The Company is going to have to compensate people for the risk to attract and retain them. Review of recruiting data proves that our total employment package is not working to attract expats. We must have a pay and security package that will attract and retain people while terrorist acts are occurring because terrorist acts are going to continue.

2. More flexible and family-friendly bachelor status. The new bachelor status assignment should allow existing expats to keep their home, allow more paid trips home (and/or paid trips here for the family), allow more L days and provide a significant housing allowance for the family located OOK. Another alternative is to provide housing in Bahrain. The recent increases in flexibility are a small step in the right direction. ChevronTexaco and other companies are seriously considering bachelor status only for all assignments in Saudi Arabia. This will further isolate Saudi Aramco expatriate spouse and families.

3. High flexibility in granting exceptions to policies in all areas without very high approval levels. When people are stressed and threatened, they have a very low tolerance for bureaucratic BS. The Company must be responsive to business and employee needs without as many forms and approvals. We need to retrain most of the expat policy people to focus on their customers, the employees, and to see how policies can be applied and exceptions made to meet individual & business needs, NOT to read the manual and say no to anything outside of it. At times this company appears to be run by low level administrators dictating that management sign more forms for the most trivial and basic exceptions. Delegation of authority in personnel benefits and perks would be helpful.

I think that's enough for now on the highest priority items. I recommend that when you decide on a change you provide the policy writers and implementers with very short deadlines to issue it, and that you communicate the decision immediately to further pressure rapid implementation. If you can work all week end they can work every day and some evenings. The longer it takes, the less effective and the more the intent gets lost in the detail. Don't try to write policies to cover every detail; expect flexible and sensible interpretation and use. I think you need to communicate this task force and your objectives along with the urgency to everyone and then make it clear that implementing these changes is the highest priority.

Lived(grew up) in Ras Tanura for 13yrs and Dhahran for 1yr. Left ~'87. Those were good times. couldn't pay me enough to live there now. If you have not gone to the Aramco Brats website, try it. Found a lot of old friends. I think it is www.aramco-brats.com or www.aramco_brats.com

I lived in Libya as Military brat and, of course, knew many of the oil company worker's kids. I think it is difficult for many to understand why these people continue to live and work where they do: in an unstable country. My impression was that many were more "at home" overseas than back in the US. The comments in the purported e-mail about the attractions of the "lifestyle" seem in sync with what I observed.

Is this the most dangerous era in the overseas oil industry ? I understand it was very touchy to be an American in the ME during the '67 and '73 Arab/Israeli Wars.

One more question.

Drop the restriction on not being able to hold your plant card and passport simultaneously; we want the option to get our wife and kids OOK (Bahrain) at a moments notice.

Saudi Aramco retains the passports of the workers ?

Feh.

My impression was that many were more "at home" overseas than back in the US.

I think there's a lot of truth to that. Things are different than they were 20 years ago- Saudization means no round eyes get promoted past a certain point. I've heard from my Supreme Commander who's a recruiter that US companies don't want anything to do with ex-aramco people- allegedly no work ethic, "coasters" etc.

Tripoli was a former Italian colony, and was far enough removed from the Arabian Penisula, and influenced by the Mediterranean culture, to be quite cosmopolitan. Think Lebanon before the Civil War.

The Arabs there hated the hegemony of Egypt.

That's interesting to know. i was almost born in Tripoli. My mom went into laybor in Malta on the beach with me. We were leaving the next day to go back. Looks like I screwed up those plans. snicker.

US companies don't want anything to do with ex-aramco people- allegedly no work ethic, "coasters" etc.

From what you describe, it sounds like the Arab syndrome affected even Western workers, if their company was Arab owned.

SA is in a bad spot.

I don't see a good outcome. Their funding of radical madrasses around the globe is coming home to roost. My only care is for the oil that keeps economies going, and good people working, all over the globe.

Malta.

I've been to Malta. One of the best, and most economical vacation spots in the world.

No better place to visit if you love history, dating from c. 7000 B.C. to the present.

In this year of WWII significance, let us remember the People of Malta who were awarded the order of the British Empire for withstanding tremendous bombing by the Germans.

Were you born in Valetta ?

SA is in a bad spot. I don't see a good outcome

yup. it's very sad- I've got several arab friends I'm still close to-westernized, modern & moderate in their beliefs...but I think they're becoming a minority. >40% of the population is under the age of 14...the economy's not growing...explosive situation.

I think a lot of us "brats" and ex-ARAMCONS thought we were "old middle east hands" when in reality virtually none of us spoke or read the language with any facility. Furthermore, we lived in the eastern province, which is said by the saudis to be much more lax in religious matters. And finally, the majority of the saudis we knew and interacted with were westernized to some degree.

I think it was similar to the experience a young Liberian might have had going to NYU and living with a wealthy, liberal Manhattan family in the 50s. As long as he stayed in that circle, he would have had one opinion of america. Had he taken a trip to mississipi, and tried to walk into a segregated restaurant...he might have had another.

Well, I thank you for posting this inside view. I've pinged some others to this thread for comment. One thing you can say about FR: we've got connections all over, and the posters here are widely experienced too.

Don't know why anyone would work for ARAMCO now when you can get better pay and benefits, better opportunities/lifestyle and interesting work in a SAFER environment. I keep getting calls about positions in Russia, the 'stans, Asia and S. America that have all of the elements above. Making the money and enjoying the "experience" of overseas life is one thing, it's another to live in fear for yourself or your family...

Security was clearly lacking at the compound in Khobar. I received an e-mail today from a friend who's still in the spook world; the security break-down was appalling. Most of the Saudi guards cut and ran at the first sign of trouble; the few who stayed were killed at their posts. But the amazing thing (or perhaps, not so amazing) is the slow reaction of the Saudi government and its so-called security forces.

From what e-mail stated, the terrorists roamed the compound at will for more than an hour. One group of Americans took cover in a rooftop shelter; two of them were later shot when they came downstairs to see if the terrorists were still around. By that time, more than an hour had passed, and Saudi troops still hadn't arrived. BTW, the e-mail was a summary of a CIA/FBI report from the scene in Khobar. We have quite a few operatives and agents assisting in the investigation. The comments from the Aramco executives speaks volumes about their "confidence" in Saudi security.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.