SECRET or may arouse at home and abroad, it is to be hopedthat he will not embark on any further large scale He is planning small residences at Sohar and Nizwa and politically there is something to be said for this. 5. Qaboos's Sandhurst education has left him with agreat interest in his own Armed Forces and he isprobably at his most relaxed and happiest when he iswith them. He has visited his Army in action at theSimba and White City positions in Dhofar, and takes aparticular interest in the SAF Training Regiment atGhalla in northern Oman. This is thoroughly healthybut there must be great scepticism whether a RoyalGuard of 750 men - which he has instructed should beformed and which incidentally will not come underCSAF's command - is justifiable at a time when thecountry faces financial embarrassment due to theconstant drag of the war in Dhofar. Qaboos like theKhedive Said has also started to design uniforms notonly for himself, but for the Royal Guard and otherunits of his forces.6. The Sultan has begun to entertain visitors fromabroad in his palace at Seeb where things are doneextremely well. The guests dine oft exquisite RoyalDoulton plates, and drink from crystal glasses which /certainlySECRET
