It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Seriously? You too?
Yes, let's leave them open, so that the hundreds of innocent people trying to get in to conduct whatever business they need to can be killed if there's an attack, just so we don't appear weak. By all means, let's add to the almost 300 people killed in attacks on embassies and consulates since 1998. All so "they don't win" or "we don't appear weak".
Originally posted by ItDepends
Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Seriously? You too?
Yes, let's leave them open, so that the hundreds of innocent people trying to get in to conduct whatever business they need to can be killed if there's an attack, just so we don't appear weak. By all means, let's add to the almost 300 people killed in attacks on embassies and consulates since 1998. All so "they don't win" or "we don't appear weak".
It's clear that this is an anomaly, something very unique, different and "very serious". I have not seen or heard such urgent concern being expressed about a "credible and "serious" terror threat since post 9/11/01.
Then after the Benghazi debacle (just as a reference point), obvious mistakes were made, intelligence was known and not acted upon. That information is all behind closed doors and via recent reports about the CIA's attention about insiders talking about it, I doubt we will ever learn the full truth of that horrible incident. And to this day, there has been NO response from the U.S. (militarily) on this matter.
Anyway, it sounds like a lot of energy, resources, etc. are focused on this potential threat. I for one am grateful and pleased that we have the Intelligence network that we do. It may not be perfect, nothing is, but I'm glad we have the skill, resources and technology available hopefully to prevent or minimize this potential "serious" threat!
reply to post by concernedcitizen519
& why give us an end date? Why the end of the month? The September 11th anniversary is right around the corner, might as well just extend it to then.
Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by ItDepends
I am of the better safe than sorry crowd, after all the times that they've not taken steps, and something has happened. I used to go to the Philippines, and there were a few hundred people lined up outside the embassy, every day. Some had been there camped out for days.
Someone in another thread said the embassies have the ability to protect themselves, so they should stay open. My reply to them fits here too. So did the Marines in Lebanon and look how many of them died in one attack.
National Post
OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird encouraged Canadian travellers and diplomats in North Africa and the Middle East to exercise added caution Friday after the United States issued a major terrorism and travel alert for the region. “It’s not for me to discuss the nature of the elevated risk that causes them (the Americans) to take these decisions,” Baird said. “Having said that, when a close friend and ally has made this determination, obviously at a bare minimum it puts us at elevated risk, and we’re encouraging a higher degree of caution.” Baird said Canada has no plans — yet — to close its diplomatic missions on Sunday, a regular work day in the region, as the U.S. has done.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Well, if we wanted to not simply give the impression of being weak but remove all doubt to the world? This does that very effectively.
US Embassies have been under some level of threat since the 1960's when terrorism properly came into being with the '68 hijacking of an Airliner by the PLO. They were blown up entirely a couple times in the 80's and 90's. Yet Reagan, Bush and Clinton did not deem the display of outright FEAR to be a productive response to terrorist threat. Nor have many, IF ANY other major world powers outside of active or soon to be active war zones.
When we start shutting down full Embassies out of fear, like children hiding under the covers? We might as well close up shop around the world. Everyone now knows it's not a question of IF the US will turn tail and run. It's only a question of what circumstances need to be created so it's the EASIER option left open.
I swear...South America as a place to spend my final decade or two is starting to look better and better. The only thing worse for Americans than a rogue nation, running across the world shooting people is a WEAK one with as much to take and plunder as we have. ...Of course, no one cares right now. It's about politics. We're SO screwed.edit on 1-8-2013 by Wrabbit2000 because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by concernedcitizen519
reply to post by lonewolf19792000
Yes, the U.S. said yesterday that it would affect all embassies in the Middle East.
Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Seriously? You too?
Yes, let's leave them open, so that the hundreds of innocent people trying to get in to conduct whatever business they need to can be killed if there's an attack, just so we don't appear weak. By all means, let's add to the almost 300 people killed in attacks on embassies and consulates since 1998. All so "they don't win" or "we don't appear weak".
Are you serious?? they took the strong approach in libyia and we are still talking about how bad that was handled.
they do the opposite now and people still talk crap...
you can't please people on the net.. damned if you do and damned if you don't
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
The enemy both now and in the future know that mere threats ...So VAGUE in fact, a region of the world cannot even be determined to announce, is enough to get the whole US State Department in a tizzy and just about messing their slacks in fear. That's outright pathetic.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Now with this? The enemy both now and in the future know that mere threats ...So VAGUE in fact, a region of the world cannot even be determined to announce, is enough to get the whole US State Department in a tizzy and just about messing their slacks in fear. That's outright pathetic.
Specific threats to Western targets in Muslim countries have prompted the closure of a number of U.S. embassies and consulates after a terroristic threat made by an al Qaeda branch was deemed active and credible, U.S. officials said. The threat, made by al Qaeda fighters in the Arab Peninsula, has forced 21 embassies spanning 5,000 miles from Algeria to Bangladesh, to close their doors on Sunday. Officials intercepted electronic communications this week between senior al Qaeda leaders in which they discussed attacks in the Middle East and Northern Africa, according to a senior U.S. official in the region.
"It is more specific and we are taking it seriously, which I think you'd expect us to do," " "There is a significant threat stream and we're reacting to it."
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
I'm cynical and absolutely have NO trust, whatsoever, for this Administration................. I really don't believe a thing about their wild, paranoid declarations anymore.
This is a THREAT!! Unequivocal!! By declaring that we know this, and have expressed warnings at the 21 locations which have been discussed along with the announced travel warnings is a sign of WEAKNESS???
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
It wasn't a year ago that this Government was all but proudly declaring Al Qaeda was siginificantly reduced as any threat, ...... You'd have thought the world was a safer place.
Now.... We're painting these people as being capable of launching major attacks to the level of actually shutting down full service Embassies in so many locations across the globe in what would sound to be coordinated action to read the threat reports.
Hey, these same folks told us the protests during and after Benghazi were purely spontaneous across the region too. Coordination wasn't possible across the whole region, at the same time and for single purpose like that. Err...but now they can launch a multi-national, multi region offensive on a dime and have us scared enough to declare the fact, world wide?
Yeah.... and people wonder WHY I don't believe a thing they say. Which is it? Al Qaeda is on it's way out and taking a pasting with these endless drone strikes across several nations...or they are MORE powerful now than they've EVER been before to do THIS scale of offensive?
Officials intercepted electronic communications this week between senior al Qaeda leaders in which they discussed attacks in the Middle East and Northern Africa, according to a senior U.S. official in the region. "It is more specific and we are taking it seriously, which I think you'd expect us to do," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsy told ABC News during the interview for "This Week." "There is a significant threat stream and we're reacting to it."