State Department: Avoid Planet Earth, There Be Terrorists There
Al Qaeda may be up to something, so take no chances.
Al Qaeda may be up to something, so take no chances.
YahooNews (“U.S. closes embassies, alerts Americans overseas to terrorist threats in August“):
The State Department on Friday put Americans worldwide on notice for possible terrorist threats, citing the Middle East and North Africa as particular danger spots and suggesting strikes could take place or originate in the Arabian Peninsula.
The department also confirmed a list of 21 diplomatic missions across the Middle East, North Africa and reaching as far as Afghanistan that will be closed on Sunday — President Barack Obama’s birthday — because of a credible security threat
“Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the department warned.
The diplomatic missions affected include those in Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Amman, Jordan; Muscat, Oman; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Algiers, Algeria; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Sana’a, Yemen; Djibouti; Doha, Qatar; Khartoum, Sudan; Nouakchott, Mauritania; and Tripoli, Libya. American diplomatic posts in Israel also will be closed.
Consulates in Dharan and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as well as a consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Erbil, Iraq, also will close.
Sunday is a regular workday in Muslim countries, as well as in Israel.
The alert issued Friday warns that “terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services.”
The department said “U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling” but did not specify what those measures should be.
Keep panicked and carry on.
Mostly harmless
That’s some real insightful commentary, James.
@mantis: I’ve written on the topic at length over the years. The bottom line is that warnings this broad are useless. What, exactly, do we know from this warning that we didn’t know yesterday? That there are terrorists in the Middle East?
@James Joyner:
Isn’t it essentially, we’re seeing a lot of chatter around this time-frame, so do with this information as you will, but you may not want to be adventurous and take an unnecessary risks when traveling?
@Jeremy R: But why would any American travel unnecessarily to the Middle East at this point in time? The region is in a state of virtual civil war even apart from the terrorist threat.
I’m treating this with bemusement rather than anger, since I get that State is screwed here either way: If something happens and they didn’t make some attempt to warn us, people would be screaming bloody murder. In the more likely event nothing happens, they’ll be accused of crying wolf. But there doesn’t appear to be anything useful here, either.
I knew Obama was mixed up in time travel…
@James Joyner: I seriously considered going to Istanbul for a vacation this month – it’s one of my favorite cities. Nutty? Maybe. Florida won out, though.
@James Joyner:
What, exactly, do we know from this warning that we didn’t know yesterday?
We know they are closing facilities on a specific day in specific cities. That suggests they have at least some idea of a planned attack or attacks. I would want to know if I was traveling in the area.
But why would any American travel unnecessarily to the Middle East at this point in time?
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because they have business in those countries? You do realize a fair number of Americans regularly travel to the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other countries on that list, right?
Mate, I live out here. The region is not in a state of civil war. A few specific countries have issues. American diplo pants wetting though is boring. The breathless emails I get from the naive newcomer American brethren out here are no longer funny. Luckily most realise after ~2 yrs that these announcements are pure US diplo ass covering, best understood “Be warned, foreigners are scary, oft do not understand English even when bellowed. Please do try not to get killed, terrible paperwork involved.”
Of course the absurd hysteria over Benghazi does incentise this silliness
@Electroman: You can find your Aegean fix here, albeit from the Greek side. Take an afternoon in New Port Richey with the sponge fishermen? They may not be around much longer 🙁
@James Joyner:
I can answer that hypothetical. My wife and I are supposed to fly to the Emirates later in the year to do a book thing. Would this warning maybe convince me to stay home? Maybe not, since they’re plumping for Business Class on Emirates. But if I was to be in coach, hell yes.
To be serious there are marginal trips like that, and we may elect not to go, or to not bring our kids, etc…
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/03/world/middleeast/qaeda-messages-prompt-us-terror-warning.html
@Electroman: good for you, Florida needs the tourist dollars more than ever- what with stevie wonder boycotting the state and all!