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Notes on International Terrorism and Response.MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2003 Reprinted from e-mail for the benefit of students. Thanks to Elizabeth Miller. Compiled by Jeremy Lewis_  Comments
MA & PhD Johns Hopkins University; BA & MA Oxford University. Posted on Feb. 10, 2003. |
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O P 062250Z FEB 03
FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS IMMEDIATE SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM IMMEDIATE ... (recipient list) UNCLAS STATE 035538 ... E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC, ASEC, PTER, PREL, PK SUBJECT: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT - WORLDWIDE CAUTION This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated November 20, 2002. It is being issued to remind U.S. citizens of the need to remain vigilant due to a heightened threat of terrorist actions that may target civilians, including the possibility of attacks by non-conventional weapons. It also reminds American citizens traveling or living overseas to avoid demonstrations and provides standard preparedness advice. This Worldwide Caution expires on May 4, 2003. The Department of State reminds Americans that U.S. citizens and interests are at a heightened risk of terrorist attacks, including by groups with links to Al- Qaida. Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, assassinations or kidnappings. While conventional weapons such as explosive devices pose a more immediate threat in many areas overseas, terrorist use of non-conventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents must be considered a growing threat. These individuals and groups have proved that they do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Because security and security awareness have been elevated within the United States, terrorists may target U.S. interests overseas. Private Americans should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and exercise caution. Attacks on places of worship and schools, and the murders of private American citizens and other westerners, demonstrate that as security is increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers will seek softer targets. These may include facilities where Americans or possibly other foreigners are generally known to congregate or visit, such as residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and beaches. Americans should increase their security awareness when they are at such locations, avoid them, or switch to other locations where Americans in large numbers generally do not congregate. There is a possibility that American citizens may be targeted for kidnapping or assassination. Demonstrations in many parts of the world may have an anti- American character. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn into confrontational situations and possibly escalate into violence. U.S. citizens traveling or residing abroad should avoid demonstrations and take commonsense precautions. American citizens residing overseas should follow the standard emergency preparedness advice found on the Department's web site at: http://travel.state.gov . A summary of the principal points follows: --Keep vital documents such as passports, birth and marriage records, medical, school, insurance and bank records in one readily accessible location. Keep copies of documents in a different secure place. --Ensure that passports and visas are valid and that you are registered with the U.S. embassy/consulate. Immediate family members who are not U.S. citizens or resident aliens ("green card" holders) should keep U.S. visas current, and apply for visas as far in advance of travel as possible. --Make or update a complete inventory of your household effects. --If you reside in a region where political unrest, street demonstrations or other temporary disruptions are common, maintain an adequate supply of food, water, and necessary medications in your home. Keep your car in good working order with a full tank of gas. U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of
alert. These facilities may temporarily close or suspend public services
from time to time for security reasons. In those instances, U.S.
embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services
to American citizens. Americans are urged to monitor the local news
and maintain contact with the nearest American embassy or consulate.
INFORM CONSULS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO, PREL, US, OIIP SUBJECT: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ALERT, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2003 MEDIA/OPINION ABROAD 1. Iraq/EU-U.S. Divisions: What Liberation called "a new escalation in the Atlantic Alliance's internal war" dominated European headlines. "U.S. Fury at European Peace Plan," announced the Guardian, which went on to speak of the Administration's "rage" and "unalloyed anger,.. .with relations between the U.S., France, and Germany plummeting." The 2/10 Times (London) headlined quotations from an interview with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld: "We will defy Paris and Berlin. They will be judged by their people." -- That said, British and French commentary appeared more taken aback than indignant Liberation cautioned that the Franco-German " 'plan'...exists only in the conditional: if it receives UNSC backing, that is, if nine members approve it, and if Saddam accepts it. All of these are big 'ifs'." Ultimately, continued the daily, "Only Hans Blix can give a margin of maneuver to Iraq on February 14. If he is unable to, it is probable that France will remember that it has always, in difficult times, been at the side of its permanent ally, the United States." (We do not yet have Belgian comment.) -- "Rumsfeld ...has not only insulted the Chancellor, but Germans in general. There can be no excuse for such behavior.... Many Germans who were initially put off by Schroeder's...maneuvers on Iraq are now fully behind him as a results of these insults." (Welt am Sonntag--Germany) -- "Lest it take comfort in the calm which presently prevails in the Arab 'street' with respect to Iraq, the U.S. risks going straight into a wall, and taking with it all the Western countries and the Middle East.... The Oriental 'street' reacts without warning, at a moment when one least expects it.... It is difficult to see how the U.S. army will be able to control Baghdad, a vast metropolis of five million..." (Le Monde) London's Sunday Times, on the other hand, pointed to Iraq's large reserve of Western-educated professionals as an indication that the conversion to Western governance should go smoothly. -- "In the long run, the 'Rumsfeld doctrine' will backfire on the Americans themselves, who will find themselves without an interlocutor and an important ally, such as a truly united EU could be on the international scene." (La Repubblica--Rome) -- "With his remark that 'the game is over,'...George Bush has effectively declared war.... The emperor will declare war without the approval of the Security Council, precisely to show that he is the...absolute ruler of the planet..." (Elevtherotipia--Athens) -- "If War must happen, it must happen only with the approval of the UN. The idea of the U.S. and the UK that they can go war without a second UN resolution makes a mockery of Powell's appearance at the UN on Wednesday." (Johannesburg Sunday Times) -- "It's not so much that we accept Bush's assertion that Saddam poses a threat to the world. The European powers are skeptical. But the U.S. is our ally. Our partnership goes a long way back. And if only for that reason, we ought to align ourselves with the U.S." (Malaya--The Philippines) The Middle East: "A war in Iraq will soon break out, and with it a great darkness will descend on events in the (occupied) territories.... Under the cover of that darkness, grave things may come to pass.... The fact is that there are no longer any voices of outrage over the situation there: not about flechette shells fired at a soccer field, not about innocent farmers who are shot to death, not about the demolition of homes at an appalling rate.... The IDF's shooting at stone-throwers is now almost taken for granted." (Ha'aretz--Tel Aviv) Turkey: Several articles in the mainstream press provide purported details of U.S.-Turkish military and civilian agreements (38,000 U.S. troops, 270 aircraft, financial issues, governance of northern Iraq). The Islamist Istanbul Star objected, "We are preparing to join a war that is opposed by 90 percent of the Turkish people and which may cause the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent Muslims...," and that losses to Turkey from a war could reach $150 billion. A Vakit columnist said that "Turkish soldiers should not be used as human shields in front of U.S. troops." Algeria: Le Quotidien d'Oran approvingly described a recent "secret" visit to Algiers by an FBI/CIA/NSA delegation aimed at inter-governmental coordination against terrorism. "Intelligence cooperation between Algerian and U.S. agencies has taken on a new life." 2. Minimize Considered POWELL |
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