State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I'm in Paris for the rest of the week. And that, apparently, isn't such a great idea according to the State Department. They've issued something called a "terror warning" -- I guess they're warning me that I could possibly become terrified -- for the general area of Europe.
That's right: they can't be any more specific than that. According to the NY Times:
The State Department travel alert issued on Sunday in response to reports of a threat by Al Qaeda was anything but precise.
Where is the threat? Europe. What is the target? Subways, railways, aircraft, ships or any “tourist infrastructure.”
What should Americans in Europe do? “Be aware of their surroundings” and “adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling,” the department advised.
The alert’s vagueness, issued after days of discussion inside the Obama administration, embodied the dilemma for the authorities in the United States and Europe over how to publicize a threat that intelligence analysts call credible but not specific.
The authorities do not want to be accused of hiding what they know. Nor do they want to panic the public unnecessarily.
Credible, but not specific. Adopt appropriate measures. They want me to know that something's probably up, but they don't want me to panic.
In a way, I sympathize with them. But I also think they're selling us short. I'm a hard person to panic. And I don't think I'm alone when I say that I know that it's impossible to guarantee my safety. Had I known about this warning before I boarded the plane, I would have still boarded the plane. You can't live your life in bubble.
This is probably unfair, but there's something irritating and infantilizing about all of this. Especially this:
Patrick F. Kennedy, the under secretary of state for management, told reporters on Sunday that the advisory was not intended to discourage Americans from traveling, but merely to urge “common-sense precautions,” including vigilance about unattended packages and loud noises, and moving away quickly if something is “beginning to happen.”
Move away if something is beginning to happen. That's good advice no matter where you are.
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Comments :
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I make fun of these State Department "fear everything" bulletins all the time--the Warden in Ankara sends them to US citizens here almost weekly, and they're always similar studies in pointing out the obvious--but on reflection, I do think they serve a purpose. The warnings remind people that perhaps they shouldn't dismiss the guy who's trying to set his shoes on fire as just another harmless in-flight eccentric, and maybe they should let the police know about that large suitcase someone seems to have left in the metro station, etc. Since so often these things are foiled by alert citizens, it makes sense to remind people to be alert.
May '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Long, if you see a guy carrying a Kalashnikov and a couple dozen grenades and shouting Allahu Akbar you are to: a) not make any unkind assumptions about any particular faith community, and b) skeedaddle.
May '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Since you are in Paris, you should also be wary of groups of seemingly agitated youths.
May '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
My wife is now nervous about taking the daily train to London and is taking taxis rather than the tube. One of the people who works for me wanted to pull out of a meeting scheduled in Paris this week. It is having a disquieting effect.
Rob, you might want to limit time in the North Station while you are there - I am not one to racial profile but.........it is an area well known for "youths" to torch cars and riot.
Great piece on the Japanese toilets. I have lived in Tokyo and I bow to your tenacity and industriousness in figuring out exactly how the things completely function. I figured you had to be Nihonjin to do so.
May '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I would be shocked if Rob were hanging out anywhere in Paris frequented by tourists.
Jul '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
It's like Our terror color codes and ozone color codes. Every time I hear or read "terror code yellow today" or "ozone watch orange today" it just reminds me of how ridiculous (nannyism) Our government has become.
Jul '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I guess they're warning me that I could possibly become terrified -- for the general area of Europe.
That's right: they can't be any more specific than that.
Rob,
Haven't you figured it out?
Political Officialn never have details before an upcoming terror attack; that is until after the attack has taken place.
Only after the attack can those generalities become specific bullet points to hold Republica.... er Right wing politicia... er Well you know, hold leadership that didn't read the crystal ball properly responsible.
We all know that some politicians aren't supposed to read a crystal ball, or even realize that a terror attack is a terror attack after it has occured, since terror attacks are not thier fault.
It's all Bush's fault. (He knew, and he probably knows now too.)
Edited on Oct 4, 2010 at 7:18amMay '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I would suggest surrounding yourself with pigs and or pork products in an attempt to create a defensive perimeter. Perhaps a meat based outfit ala Lady Gaga consisting of prosciutto or pancetta would work.
Jul '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Yeah, but you know how this goes: after a while you feel a little peckish, and next thing you know, you're facing a public indecency charge.
Jun '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
This reminds me of when the EU put out a list of airlines they wouldn't allow fly into Europe. There were ten Russian airlines on the list. I had flown on eight of them already. Sometimes you gotta just live and let live.
The only time I was actually willing to heed warnings was when my project team had considered traveling to our company's site in Israel. The Intifada started and I was perfectly happy to stay home. Of course, the Israeli employees never missed a day of work there. At some point, you just have to live your life and play the odds, otherwise, you'll never leave the house.
Meanwhile, I'm still chuckling at some of the funniest comments yet on Ricochet as a result of this post.
Aug '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Rob, Buy a couple of man scarves and a berret or two - you'll blend right in with the rest of the Frogs!
Aug '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Two things : (1) too bad you're not packing (2) how do you like the MSM's newest export ?
An old inkslinger like you can handle it. Just watch where you park the Deux Chaveux, because it'll get torched on any night from the past two years. Restless youths !
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
I took a walk yesterday along my usual route here -- and, Trace, there were a few tourist spots included on the walk -- and I saw a slightly higher number than usual of those unsmiling French commando-looking guys -- the kind that almost saved Algeria, remember? -- walking around, two-by-two, looking menacing and reassuring at the same time.
I love France. Positively and utterly. Despite her....um....issues and drawbacks and irritating behavior, there's just something wonderful about a country with that many cheeses and a highly organized system of sauces.
Aug '10
Re: State Department's Advice: "Move Away if Something is Beginning to Happen"
Rob, I know what you mean; I visited France for the first time last spring and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I loved Paris - hope to go back some day. Of course being there with my daughter who lived there for over a year and is fluent in French probably helped!