Travel warnings

[mendeleyev]

At first glance I thought that perhaps this was a subtle ploy to divert attention away from the NSA scandals, especially in light of Germany's announcement that all covert cooperation treaties with the USA are immediately suspended due to mounting evidence of illegal and improper of the NSA spying on the USA's long time ally. This means that effective today the German and American security services aren't talking to each other or sharing information without approval from Germany's Chancellor or PM.

The USA seems to have discovered the capability of inventing potential scenarios designed to scare citizens back into compliance on issues like security and policing. So, when the US government announced that "chatter" in the Muslim world had increased dramatically in relation to a possible terror attack on US Embassy locations and that Americans traveling in Africa and the Middle East could be targeted, my first reaction was somewhere between cautionary and dismissive. I honestly don't know if this is legitimate, or a ploy to make Americans feel that the NSA really needs to collect all that information on everyone and everything.

As of now, all US Embassies in the those areas have been closed at least for the weekend. Before you make an assumption about the weekend however, remember than in the Muslim world Sunday is not a day off. It is a weekday and Embassy operations reflect that reality. So the shutdown is a real shutdown.

In regards to travel warnings: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57596754/state-department-issues-travel-alert-for-americans-abroad/

[GQBlues]

I read somewhere, Sunday, coincidentally, also happens to be Obama's b-day and also the inauguration day of Iran's new president.

[mendeleyev]

Good point, GQ. I hope that the weekend passes with no violence. We're coming to the end of Ramadan at sundown on Wednesday, 7 August so perhaps that figures into the State Department's concerns further into August as well.

[ML]

I thought it was the religion of peace.

[Welder]

This seems a bit odd that they would be closing embassies in areas where it is a national holiday.  EID holidays are 8,9 and 10th.  Not unlike any where else in the west when a holiday falls on a weekend the day after the weekend is considered off.  Friday and Saturday are typical week end days in the UAE.  Sunday is no surprise as everything here will be closed.  Saudi typically shuts down government offices for the week or at the most will run a skeleton crew at essential services.
Not saying in any way that there is no threat but these shut downs will be dictated by local laws declaring said dates as National Holidays.

[Slumba]

The US govt lies to you, all the time, constantly. 

If they put out a report that the sky is blue, I go outside and double-check.

[XMan]

It's interesting that since the "Patriot Act"  we've ecome far more like the FSU.

[ML]

Before going too far down this road of anger toward US Gov't . . . time to reflect on who actually caused (is causing) this problem.

[steveboy]

The US govt lies to you, all the time, constantly. 

If they put out a report that the sky is blue, I go outside and double-check.

The US govt is just a bunch of crooks . Special relationship with the UK ? I think not most of the general public in the UK are sick and tired of the US and their heavy handed tactics. Roll on the day when China runs the show! Give someone else a chance to be the big mouth of the planet