US officials: US considering an alert to Americans in Europe to stay away from public places

[Turborama]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - US officials: US considering an alert to Americans in Europe to stay away from public places

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/nation/104207913.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

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US May Issue Warning on Public Places in Europe

WASHINGTON October 2, 2010

The Associated Press has learned the Obama administration is considering a broad warning for U.S. citizens to avoid public places in Europe due to new al-Qaida threats.

Such a move could have significant implications for European tourism.

U.S. officials told the AP on Saturday that the State Department may issue a travel warning as early as Sunday advising Americans to stay away from European tourist sites, transportation hubs and other facilities airport for Europe because of new threat information.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley declined to comment on the matter. But he said the administration remains focused on al-Qaida threats to U.S. interests and will take appropriate steps to protect Americans.

From: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=11783438

[Iggo]

1. Because...

...?

[Turborama]

5. More details (though still sketchy) added on edit. n/t

[Iggo]

8. Thanks.

[hlthe2b]

2. Geez.. what are they supposed to do?

Hide under their beds in their hotels (and hope their hotel is safe in the end?)

I don't see how this is particularly helpful..

[liberal N proud]

3. That spoils the whole reason we go to Europe

It's not to sit in a hotel room.

[peacetalksforall]

15. You might as well them to fly home. No one avoids public places in Europe.

Head to a cave?

[Turborama]

16. Europe isn't just one large city

As in America, there's some of the most beautiful countryside in the world there.

[liberal N proud]

17. No kidding

The whole of Europe is one beautiful public space.

[msongs]

4. police states use fear to justify their existance. watch out for drunk drivers over there :-) nt

[Turborama]

7. What would your reaction be if a terrorist attack happens and they hadn't warned anyone in advance?

Even though it later turned out they knew about an imminent threat in advance?

[ClarkUSA]

6. If the WH has knowledge of terrorist threats planned in the EU, this is the responsible thing to do.

If Bush II had taken proactive public and gov't. action after that damning August 6, 2001 PDB fingering OBL, 9/11 may never have happened.

[whathehell]

9. Yes, it is...

.."police state" my ass.

As far as Bush, goes..Of course you are right and the way the PTB, in the media and otherwise, have let him "get away with" failing to protect the country is inexcusable.

[Mimosa]

19. Hindsight is 20/20

Obama and Clinton have to deal with today's problems. :(

[mainer]

10. I've heard they're talking about Mumbai-type attacks

Which would mean hotels where American tourists tend to congregate. Sounds like booking into a modest B&B would be the safest.

[Turborama]

11. Or going out to enjoy the fall in the countryside (Devon, England is beautiful at this time of year)

I know that's where I'd rather be anyway, terrorist threat or not.

[foxfeet]

12. Probably a good time to explore European backroads

and smaller towns. It makes sense to avoid places like the Eiffel Tower, Piazza San Marco and other large public places where tourists gather.

[hedgehog]

18. I was in Paris a few weeks back and the Eiffel Tower was

closed briefly and the park around it evacuated because of a bomb threat.

[Old and In the Way]

13. Given the politics of this country, I have no problems with this warning.

Unlike Bush/Cheney, Obama isn't trying to use terrorism as a political club to drive their economic/social agenda. But his administration is smart enough to realize that Republicans would use this lack of warning against the President, should an attack occur and US citizens are victims. Unlike Democrats who would 'turn the other check' and avoid crass politicization of the tragedy, Republicans would be under no such rules of self-restraint. Fact is, they'd be demanding immediate impeachment hearings....that's a given.

That said, the traveler has to ask him or herself what the probability outcome is of being caught in an attack vs. not going and facing the combined daily risks of living in the USA (car accidents, shoots, etc.). A blanket warning without more specific details is not a compelling reason not to travel, IMO.

[Turborama]

14. Apparently, Hillary Clinton is going to make a statement in an hour and a half

There are reports on TV of it possibly being an "imminent" threat.

[KurtNYC]

20. when is a warning not a warning ? when it is the consideration of issuing a warning

they really have this both ways. Kind of like leaving the terror alert color orange (middle of the range) for 9 years.

[Turborama]

21. Update from MSNBC which kind of explains why there's been a delay. They're working on the wording

U.S. to issue travel alert for Americans in Europe
Increased vigilance urged though no specific targets named in new al-Qaida threats

NBC News and news services
updated 33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department on Sunday will issue a travel "alert" urging American citizens to be vigilant as they travel in Europe, government officials told NBC News on Saturday.

The alert is due to new al-Qaida threats although officials have not identified specific targets that terrorists might be considering, NBC News said.

Senior U.S. diplomats who report to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in Washington Saturday today to discuss the wording, The Sunday Telegraph of London reported.

=snip=

The State Department is not expected to issue a warning advising Americans against travel to Europe, the newspaper said. However, officials from Britain and other major European countries have been briefed on the alert, it said.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39474951/ns/us_news-security/

[Bozita]

22. NYT just reporting: U.S. to Issue Terrorism Alert on Sunday for Travel to Europe

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/world/europe/03security.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

U.S. to Issue Terrorism Alert for Travel to Europe
By SCOTT SHANE
Published: October 2, 2010


The State Department plans to issue an alert on Sunday urging Americans traveling to Europe to be vigilant about possible terrorist attacks, an American official said Saturday.

The decision to caution travelers comes as counterterrorism officials in Europe and the United States are assessing intelligence about possible plots originating in Pakistan and North Africa aimed at Britain, France and Germany.

A travel alert would merely urge extra caution during a specific time and would not discourage Americans from visiting Europe. The official, who did not want to be identified speaking about internal government deliberations, said a stronger “travel warning” that might advise Americans not to visit Europe was not under consideration.

European officials have been concerned about the impact on tourism and student travel from any official guidance to American travelers.

more...

[Hardrada]

23. I have never had any problems on the Unter den Linden.

[yurbud]

24. as soon as they said ''al Qaeda'' it stopped being serious