State Dept. Issues Terrorism Alert for Europe

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The State Department has isssued a travel alert for Europe, because of intelligence that Al Qaeda is planning a major attack.

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe.� Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks.� European governments have taken action to guard against a terrorist attack and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions.

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.

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15 comments
1 ruexperienced  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:06:14am

Isn't it standard operating procedure when overseas to follow these practices anyway ?

This is the post 9/11 landscape guys.

2 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:08:48am

It's lucky we got some advance warning. That's what all the drone strikes have been about: disruption enemy C3.

3 prairiefire  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:12:09am

Be aware, people!

4 sattv4u2  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:19:38am

Not a good day for the USA's Ryder Cup team

They entered the day up 6 to 4
They are now behind 6 1/2 to 9 1/2

blech!

5 sagehen  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:28:05am

I'm feeling cynical today. Something this vague strikes me as... well...

Remember the terrorism color chart, and how throughout the 2002 and 2004 campaigns it went up to orange and took over the news cycle every time the challenging party seemed to be gaining momentum? And after he left Homeland Security, Tom Ridge even admitted that Karl Rove had pressured him to raise the alert level in response to trivial unsubstantiated rumors whenever it seemed to suit the campaign's political needs?

I don't want to believe that Hillary's department would do the same thing. I really want to believe she and Obama are better than that. But.

6 lostlakehiker  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:29:19am

Well, if it's a Mumbai-style thing, then one can only hope that the European security personnel have been given training with live ammo and can nerve themselves to go and fight.

We have seen the Dutch at Srebrenitsa. They walked away from their duty and allowed a massacre. We have seen the Germans at Munich. They would not close with the PLO and fight, and again there was a massacre.

The Russians took their sweet time at Beslan. Again, there was a massacre. The way things worked out, civilians with civilian arms took the fight to the Chechen Muslim terrorists, and the regulars were swept into participation.

These lessons are there to be learned from. When something like that happens, everybody who can fight must engage the enemy. Win or lose, good odds or bad, get some rounds off or move to a better position for fighting. Time may be on your side, but it's not on the side of the civilians who are the real target.

Our own experience at Ft. Hood is also instructive. The first officer to confront the shooter was at a disadvantage, and got shot and severely wounded. Achieving nothing....EXCEPT to occupy the shooter's attention for just long enough for another responder to come up on the shooter and down him.

For civilians caught in such a mess, there are also lessons from Mumbai, Beslan, and so forth. Do something. Blockade your doors. Disobey orders and sneak away if any opportunity glimmers. If shot, you may still be able to move and escape, but if that is impossible, play dead.

Then again, the attack may come in a different style. The list of dangers is endless, each a bit more remote than the one next higher on the list. At some point, you have to just go about your business. Like London during the Blitz, carrying on is something to be proud of.

Al Qaeda can bring off an attack. They can't bring us to our knees. While we must not become complacent, it really does look as if they cannot get their hands on nukes. Without those devices, they can deliver nothing but pinpricks as war is scored. It sucks to be them. We win, they lose.

7 sattv4u2  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:36:15am

re: #6 lostlakehiker

Without those devices, they can deliver nothing but pinpricks

Unfortunately, those "pinpricks" are innocent lives!

8 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:39:32am

re: #7 sattv4u2

Without those devices, they can deliver nothing but pinpricks

Unfortunately, those "pinpricks" are innocent lives!

True, but war is war. The German Navy's bombardment of Scarborough and Hartlepool during WWI killed far more civilians than died in the 7/7 bombings. We have to keep perspective. The enemy will kill some us, that is a given. The key is to keep our nerve and keep the losses to the minimum possible.

9 jc717  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 10:55:22am

Can they get any more vague than 'Europe'? How useful is that?
They might as well say 'Terrorists planning terror.'

10 KernelPanic  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 12:09:36pm

Landed in Germany a few hours ago, if they had released the alert a bit earlier maybe I would have had a good excuse for blowing off this trip!

11 jayzee  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 1:15:28pm

re: #5 sagehen

I'm feeling cynical today. Something this vague strikes me as... well...

Remember the terrorism color chart, and how throughout the 2002 and 2004 campaigns it went up to orange and took over the news cycle every time the challenging party seemed to be gaining momentum? And after he left Homeland Security, Tom Ridge even admitted that Karl Rove had pressured him to raise the alert level in response to trivial unsubstantiated rumors whenever it seemed to suit the campaign's political needs?

I don't want to believe that Hillary's department would do the same thing. I really want to believe she and Obama are better than that. But.

Well , besides the fact that Tom Ridge later flip flopped on this, he also stated, that "he prevailed and the threat level was not elevated", though he writes that the episode reinforced his decision to resign.

I believe the terror threats.

12 jayzee  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 1:26:53pm

re: #9 jc717

Can they get any more vague than 'Europe'? How useful is that?
They might as well say 'Terrorists planning terror.'

What's should also be scary is that before 9/11 the security agencies released a similar warning for Japan. We know what the real targets were now.

13 What, me worry?  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 1:33:11pm

re: #5 sagehen

I'm feeling cynical today. Something this vague strikes me as... well...

Remember the terrorism color chart, and how throughout the 2002 and 2004 campaigns it went up to orange and took over the news cycle every time the challenging party seemed to be gaining momentum? And after he left Homeland Security, Tom Ridge even admitted that Karl Rove had pressured him to raise the alert level in response to trivial unsubstantiated rumors whenever it seemed to suit the campaign's political needs?

I don't want to believe that Hillary's department would do the same thing. I really want to believe she and Obama are better than that. But.

They mentioned the terror alert this morning. What I thought was odd, they said the alert status changed in many countries, but didn't change in England... because they were on high alert to begin with. Yikes!

14 What, me worry?  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 1:34:14pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

They said this morning (local news) that they were most concerned about another Mumbai-like attack.

15 sagehen  Sun, Oct 3, 2010 2:57:22pm

re: #11 jayzee

Well , besides the fact that Tom Ridge later flip flopped on this, he also stated, that "he prevailed and the threat level was not elevated", though he writes that the episode reinforced his decision to resign.

I believe the terror threats.

So if I'm reassured that the people issuing warnings are honest, then I have to worry that it's real. No reduction in concern, just a different focus for it. Great.

Oh!! I know! I can feel better that by publicizing what seemed about to happen, they got the people who were going to do it to call it off. Yes! That speculation is the most pleasant.


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