Wednesday, February 2, 2011

News Flash: Beware the terror (ists)

The following message is an Email we received from our program director about news happening over here in Europe. Scary.

Consulate of the United States of America
Barcelona, Spain

U.S. Consulate Warden Message


The following Message is for maximum dissemination to U.S. Citizens.
Worldwide Caution

January 31, 2011
The Department of State has issued this Worldwide Caution to update
information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence
against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.  U.S. citizens are
reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps
to increase their security awareness. This replaces the Worldwide Caution
dated August 12, 2010, to provide updated information on security threats
and terrorist activities worldwide.
The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of
terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S.
citizens and interests overseas.  U.S. citizens are reminded that
demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.  Current
information suggests that Al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to
plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including
Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.  These attacks may employ a wide
variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations,
kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings.
Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and
target both official and private interests.  Examples of such targets
include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices,
hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and
locales where U.S. citizens gather in large numbers, including during
holidays.
U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public
transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure.  Extremists have
targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and
maritime services.  In the past several years, these types of attacks have
occurred in cities such as Moscow, London, Madrid, and Glasgow.
Current information suggests that Al-Qaida and affiliated organizations
continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. and Western interests in
Europe.  European governments have taken action to guard against terrorist
attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions.
In the past several years, attacks have been planned or occurred in various
European cities.

Credible information indicates terrorist groups also seek to continue
attacks against U.S. interests in the Middle East and North Africa.  For
example, Iraq remains dangerous and unpredictable.  Attacks against military
and civilian targets throughout Iraq continue.  Methods of attack have
included roadside improvised explosive devices, mortars, and shootings;
kidnappings still occur as well.  Security threat levels remain high in
Yemen due to terrorist activities there.  The U.S. Embassy has had to close
several times in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaida in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP).  U.S. citizens as well as other Westerners have been
targeted for attack in Yemen.  U.S. citizens have also been the targets of
numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon in the past (though none recently) and
the threat of anti-Western terrorist activity continues to exist there.  In
Algeria, terrorist attacks occur regularly, particularly in the Kabylie
region of the country.  In the past, terrorists have targeted oil processing
facilities in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

A number of Al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be
operating in and around Africa.  Since the July 11, 2010, terrorist bombings
in Kampala, Uganda, for which the Somalia-based, U.S.-designated Foreign
Terrorist Organization al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, there have
been increased threats against public areas across East Africa.  The
terrorist attacks of August and September 2010 against the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) and African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces in
Somalia, as well as the bombing of hotels and minibuses in Somalia,
highlight the vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks in East Africa and around
the world.  Additionally, the terrorist group, Al-Qaida in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM), has declared its intention to attack Western targets
throughout the Sahel (which includes Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), and has
claimed responsibility for kidnappings, attempted kidnappings, and the
murder of several Westerners.

U.S. citizens considering travel by sea near the Horn of Africa or in the
southern Red Sea should exercise extreme caution, as there has been a
notable increase in armed attacks, robberies, and kidnappings for ransom by
pirates.  Merchant vessels continue to be hijacked in Somali territorial
waters, while others have been hijacked as far as 1,000 nautical miles off
the coast of Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya in international waters.
The U.S. government maritime authorities advise mariners to avoid the port
of Mogadishu and to remain at least 200 nautical miles off the coast of
Somalia.  In addition, when transiting around the Horn of Africa or in the
Red Sea, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys and
maintain good communications at all times.  U.S. citizens traveling on
commercial passenger vessels should consult with the shipping or cruise-ship
company regarding precautions that will be taken to avoid hijacking
incidents.  Commercial vessels should review the Department of
Transportation Maritime Administration's
<http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/horn_of_africa_piracy/horn_
of_africa_piracy.htm
>  suggested piracy countermeasures for vessels
transiting the Gulf of Aden.
The U.S. government continues to receive information that terrorist groups
in South and Central Asia may also be planning attacks in the region,
possibly against U.S. government facilities, U.S. citizens, or U.S.
interests.  The presence of Al-Qaida and its affiliates, Taliban elements,
Lashkar-e-Taiba, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror
organizations, many of which are on the U.S. government's list of Foreign
Terror Organizations (FTOs), poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens in
the region.  Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their
willingness and ability to attack targets where Americans or Westerners are
known to congregate or visit.  Their actions may include, but are not
limited to, vehicle-born explosive attacks, improvised explosive device
attacks, assassinations, carjackings, rocket attacks, assaults, or
kidnappings.

Examples of potential attacks in South Asian states include Pakistan, where
a number of extremist groups continue to target U.S. and other Western
citizens and interests, and Pakistani government officials and military/law
enforcement personnel.  Suicide bombing attacks continue to occur throughout
the country on a regular basis, often targeting government authorities such
as police checkpoints and military installations, as well as public areas
such as mosques, and shopping areas.  In Afghanistan, remnants of the former
Taliban regime and the Al-Qaida terrorist network, as well as other groups
hostile to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/NATO military
operations, remain active.  There is an ongoing threat to kidnap and
assassinate U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) workers
throughout the country.  In India, there is a continuing threat of terrorism
as attacks have randomly targeted public places frequented by Westerners,
including luxury and other hotels, trains, train stations, markets, cinemas,
mosques, and restaurants in large urban areas.
Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan,
Al-Qaida, the Islamic Jihad Union, and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic
Movement are active in the Central Asian region.  Members of these groups
have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and have attacked U.S. government
interests in the past.  Previous terrorist attacks conducted in Central Asia
have involved improvised explosive devices, suicide bombings,
assassinations, and kidnappings.
Before You Go
The Department of State encourages U.S. citizens living overseas or planning
to travel abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program (STEP) <https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui> .  By
enrolling in STEP, we can keep you up to date with important safety and
security announcements.  Enrolling in STEP will also make it easier for the
Embassy to contact you in the event of an emergency.  You should remember to
keep all of your information in STEP up to date; it is particularly
important when you enroll or update your information to include a current
phone number and e-mail address.

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance,
be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their
personal security.  For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip
Abroad" <http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html> .
U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.
These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public
services to assess their security posture.  In those instances, U.S.
embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency
services to U.S. citizens.  U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the
local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
As the Department of State continues to develop information on potential
security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat
information through its Consular Information Program documents
<http://travel.state.gov/> , such as Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as
well as Country Specific Information, which are available on the Bureau of
Consular Affairs website <http://travel.state.gov/> . Stay up to date by
bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website <http://travel.state.gov>
.  Follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/travelgov>  and the Bureau of
Consular Affairs page on facebook <http://www.facebook.com/travelgov>  as
well.

1 comment:

  1. Great meta-comment!!
    As ethnographers, we hope to observe our host culture from an almost invisible vantage point. We don't want to make waves, or "insert ourselves," but rather to get a real, unadulterated look at the culture of our focus. Some artifacts (such as this email message) reveal to us that such non-distancing is never really possible.

    ReplyDelete