State Department Issues New Worldwide Travel Alert on Terror

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

By Nicole Gaouette - Aug 2, 2013

The U.S. State Department has issued a new worldwide alert to citizens warning of potential terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

The department, which said yesterday that embassies in a number of countries would be closed Sunday, said the attacks are seen as possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.

“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond,” the alert said.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-02/state-department-issues-new-worldwide-travel-alert-on-terror.html

[Newsjock]

1. 'The nexus of politics and terror'

Oh how I miss Mr. Olbermann.

[Scuba]

2. "Worldwide" means here at home too! I guess they want me scared, very, very scared.

Well, fuck 'em. I'm getting in the car and going places!!!!

[Divernan]

10. Scuba, & others - rec this thread, please!

I mean we need to scare all Americans (and those socialists in the EU!) everywhere into supporting NSA, er. . . I mean get this warning out to EVERYONE, IMMEDIATELY!

Look, this "world-wide" warning could not be more vague. Billions and billions spent on NSA and the best they can come up with is "a number of" (unnamed countries/embassies) "possibly" occurring in or emanating from" the Arabian Peninsula . . .and unnamed "affiliated organizations" I mean at least with Ridge we got specific colors and instructions to buy duct tape.

I'd sure appreciate a tiny bit of transparency re one or two of the specifics which prompted a WORLD WIDE warning. Why is it secret which embassies will be closed? Their identities will be obvious to those in the countries involved. Should everyone in the whole world avoid sporting events? stay out of malls? not fly? stay off public transportation? carry gas masks with them at all times? Inquiring minds, not to mention we taxpayers who fund the spying, want to know!

Let's keep this thread alive and give more DUers the opportunity to indicate whether they believe this or find it a political ploy.

As a commenter on Bloomberg observed: What?! Terrorist attacks in the Middle East and North Africa? Regions with century long histories of turmoil?

[Scuba]

13. Recced to give the replies extra vis.

[itsrobert]

3. Taking a page out of the Bush playbook

When questions arise about spying and security tactics put out a terror alert.

[Flo Mingo]

4. You snatched the words from my keyboard, itsrobert.

If I hadn't taken time for the worlds largest eyeroll, I might have beat you to the punch!

[Purveyor]

5. Indeed! +1 eom

[L0oniX]

6. FUCK OFF YOU DAMNED NSA DHS LEECHES ...mean while I'll be doing the usual shit today.

Please protect me from the other asshole texting drivers.

[truth2power]

7. Boy who cried 'wolf'. n/t

[Divernan]

8. Tom Ridge called it: terror alerts used for political cover/purposes

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/tom-ridge-admits-terror-alerts-were-use
This is a big deal because it came from the horse's mouth. Tom Ridge admitted in his book what we've known for a long time and what has been reported years ago.

Former US homeland security chief Tom Ridge charges in a new book that top aides to then-president George W. Bush pressured him to raise the "terror alert" level to sway the November 2004 US election.

Then defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and attorney general John Ashcroft pushed him to elevate the color-coded threat level, but Ridge refused, according to a summary from his publisher, Thomas Dunne Books.

"After that episode, I knew I had to follow through with my plans to leave the federal government for the private sector," Ridge is quoting as writing in "The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... And How We Can Be Safe Again."

Some of Bush's critics had repeatedly questioned whether the administration was using warnings of a possible attack to blunt the political damage from the unpopular Iraq war by shifting the debate to the broader "war on terrorism," which had wide popular appeal. He later publicly acknowledged that much of the information underpinning the new alert was three years old, stoking Bush critics' charges of political manipulation.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
(The more things change, the more they stay the same.)

[Zorro]

9. Lots of head-in-the-sand Republicans dismissed the al-Quaeda threat

right before 9/11.

It was proven to be a serious mistake.

[totodeinhere]

11. True, but then they learned to issue fake warnings for political purposes.

Is it a coincidence that this alert happened at the same time that NSA officials are trying to convince us that NSA spying actually prevents terrorism? I think it's reasonable to be suspicious.

[Divernan]

12. You're right!, So why not provide a REAL warning, not a "world-wide" one.

That's what we're funding NSA for, right?

[Divernan]

14. Update: 21 still unnamed embassies - through end of August

At least & at last, a little transparency. But I couldn't find a list of the closures. Anyone else able to provide a list? Closing the embassies will protect people working there, but what about Americans working/traveling in those countries? They deserve the same warnings. And in this internet age, providing that list to people in the US means they can get in touch with friends, relative, colleagues abroad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-closing-embassies-consulates-in-muslim-world-sunday-after-receiving-unspecified-threat/2013/08/01/ede156d4-fb20-11e2-89f7-8599e3f77a67_story.html

Friday’s alert warned that al-Qaida or its allies may target U.S. government or private American interests. It cited dangers involved with public transportation systems and other prime sites for tourists, noting that previous terrorist attacks have centered on subway and rail networks as well as airplanes and boats.

“U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling,” the department said. It recommended American traveling overseas register with consular authorities on a travel registration website. The alert expires on Aug. 31.

[Turborama]

23. Here it is...

Temporary Post Closures and Worldwide Travel Alert

The following posts normally open on Sunday will be closed on Sunday, August 4, 2013. For further information, please click on the links below. A Worldwide Travel Alert has also been issued.

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

U.S. Embassy Algiers, Algeria

U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan

U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq

U.S. Consulate Basrah, Iraq
U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt

U.S. Consulate Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

U.S. Embassy Djibouti, Djibouti

U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh

U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar

U.S. Consulate Dubai, United Arab Emirates

U.S. Consulate Erbil, Iraq

U.S. Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan

U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan

U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait

U.S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain

U.S. Embassy Muscat, Oman

U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, Mauritania

U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

U.S. Embassy Sana’a, Yemen

U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Libya



Updates to this page and links will be made as necessary.



http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_6037.html

[Divernan]

30. Thank you - really a large area involved, for sure.

[They_Live]

15. sunday. Sunday! SUNDAY!!!

Citizens, please continue shopping.

[warrprayer]

16. high security protocol in place! woop! woop!

...

[tinymontgomery]

24. Get Smart

Get Smart just cracks me up. I still watch it.

[warrprayer]

25. Don Adams is an interesting actor

He joined USMC at 16 and was at Guadacanal.

[DCBob]

17. Here's the actual alert.

By U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs
Worldwide Travel Alert
August 2, 2013

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. 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. This Travel Alert expires on August 31, 2013.

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. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.

We continue to work closely with other nations on the threat from international terrorism, including from al-Qa'ida. Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.
We recommend U.S. citizens register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens Traveling abroad enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Internet website at travel.state.gov where the Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Download our free Smart Traveler app, available through iTunes or Google Play, to have travel information at your fingertips.

In addition to information on the internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, from other countries, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).

[Posteritatis]

19. Certainly a lot less panicky than the news coverage of it. (nt)

[Sand Wind]

18. Take it seriously : I noticed a particularly sudden and massive appearance

I noticed a particularly sudden and massive appearance of anti-American paranoid propaganda from the extremist movement affiliated with AQIM.

And they are using that old video of a CIA executive, and make him to say, (because most people there doesn't properly understand oral English) that US try to impose their view (or a certain brand) of Islam on Muslims. So what happen now in Egypt and Tunisia come in this paranoid point of view.

So yes, they might choose to bomb some US properties soon.

[JoeyT]

20. Time to hit the store.

I'm all out of duct tape and plastic.

[forestpath]

21. 2003 called, it wants it alerts back.

[Peace Patriot]

22. Excuse to do things like ground President Morales of Bolivia's plane, to get Snowden?

That was my first thought: Snowden was just freed from the Moscow airport and given asylum in Russia for one year. The "one year" limit seems to indicate that Snowden wants to go to South America where permanent asylum has been offered to him. The very next day this "worldwide" NSA alert was issued. The alert is focused on travel. U.S. fascists face varied scenarios on potential Snowden travel--different countries, different transportation systems, different local police establishments, etc. This covers them all. And if they offend local governments by intrusive searches or S.W.A.T. team raids, etc., what do they care? A, they're after "Al Qaeda, and B, what can anybody do but lamely protest?

The grounding and attempted search of Morales' plane was the template. The protests were a bit loud, though, and may have caused some trouble for U.S. 1%-er interests in Latin America. (Nothing offends Latin Americans more than the U.S. spitting on their sovereignty.) So this. Who can get any traction protesting a U.S. hunt for "terrorists" whom the NSA claims are out to blow up airplanes and so on?

That's my hit on this. It's more than "Be scared all the time." And it's more than flak to drown out NSA spying revelations--though, of course, it may have secondary purposes. It's first of all a ploy to monitor all potential routes Snowden might take from Russia to South America AND to take action to seize him if he falls in their net.

[AppleBottom]

26. Fear is a great tool to round up the sheep.

I find it fascinating that this administration had the audacity to accuse Snowden of propaganda.

[matthews]

27. Are we at level orange? Moving to red? What?

[PDJane]

28. When I hear these things, I wonder what the CIA is doing now.

[sigmasix]

29. Teabaggers busy conflating Obama with Bush

Tom Ridge laid out how Bush Used terror threat levels to manipulate politics in America- now the right wing libertarians disguised as progressives are attempting to tar president obama with the acts of bush. Never mind that this president has never issued a terrorism warning during election cycles, nor has anyone ever presented proof that president Obama has ever used the terror threat as a political tool. All that matters to the hair-on-fire disguised libertarians, and freaky left wing paranoid conspiracy mongers is that they can find or invent confirmation of the global Obama conspiracy to spy on every American all the time while attempting to enslave us to evil muslim overlords. All the commentary in this OP seems to be coming from teabagger-approved conspiracy theories about the president. Congratulations for being such "independent thinkers"- we know you and your intentions are in complete apposition to the future of America- the fruit of this rotten, conspiracy theory laden tree is poisonous to a free and healthy democracy.
But only sheeple trust the president, right?

[stanshch]

31. really?

I love how you call the opposing view to your own a "conspiracy theory". You find the need to give something outside of your own beliefs such a dogmatic label because you're scared of a world in which the ruling class does not hold your well-being in high regard.

Do you not see a coincidence in these terror threats coming about shortly after Edward Snowden revealed the NSA?

How about Wayne Madsen? A former employee of the NSA who told press TV that the US govt. is using this "terror threat" to sell the American population on PRISM. It's their attempt to justify taking away more of our rights and to ridicule Snowden.

Please enlighten me on how this doesn't seem like a clever ploy to justify spying on us.