What with the US travel warning and shutting your embassies?

[WelshBloke]

Linkage http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23554652

Seems a bit more than the usual reaction. You guys getting any more information over there?

 

[Kadarin]

I'm sure the NSA has a ton of information, but they're certainly not sharing it with the rest of us.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was curious if there was anymore information released over there and what the general level of reporting was.
The Beeb gives the impression that it's quite unusual, they seem more interested in the US reaction rather than the threat (actual or imagined).

 

[John Connor]

Saw it on the news yesterday morning. You're getting the same info. as we are.

 

[WelshBloke]

The US diplomatic missions to be closed on Sunday are in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Algiers, Algeria; Amman, Jordan; Baghdad, Iraq; Cairo, Egypt; Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Djibouti, Djibouti; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Erbil, Iraq; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Kabul, Afghanistan; Khartoum, Sudan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Muscat, Oman; Nouakchott, Mauritania; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sanaa, Yemen and Tripoli, Libya.

I'm surprised places like Saudi are on the list. They normally keep a fairly tight lead on their citizens.

Any rumours of an Arab spring type uprising in Saudi?

/tinfoilhat

 

[zanejohnson]

yeah big things are happening right now, russia is moving actual troops around too.. scary.


my guess is syria is about to get lit the fuck up by israel.... and then...


your guess is as good as mine.. if Russia retaliates (which they have sworn they will come to the aid of syria and vise versa) then we may see a UN power move.. the UN may try to step in to keep the peace... the Saudi's wont like that......... and THEY are the real ones to worry about... they make moves through other people armies... and they usually fund both sides, AND this would keep the world dependent on oil/them if we were to see a real military action... China, is the wildcard.. and North Korea actually gains HUGE ground here.

 

[Raizinman]

As a former IDF soldier, my friends tell me that a special bombing by Israel is coming shortly. They obviously couldn't tell me when or where, but preparations are being made for a strong assault. Even the US Embassy in Israel has been closed due to possible retaliations. My guess time wise is before the Jewish Holidays which start the evening of September 4 or perhaps right after all the holidays, which is Wednesday September 25. But that could be to obvious in prediction.

 

[mikeymikec]

In my cynical opinion, it's part of the US response to Edward Snowden being given temporary asylum by Russia; security theatre at its finest. And/or it might be a further attempt to increase vigilance to catch him if he tries to leave Russia without looking like a bunch of bullying douche bags in the way that they've tried so far.

Why else would such a vague travel warning and international courses of action be employed? If it was anything to do with Syria and Israel, then shutting embassies is the last thing the US wants to do if it wants to protect its citizens and connections in those countries.

If there was a specific terrorist threat, then the US is tipping off its opponent that it knows something is up. If such an action doesn't make the terrorist group give up, then what is the point? If your opponent said "we know you're up to something, we just don't know what", how would that alter your method of attack?

As far as my knowledge and reason takes me, closing an embassy means removing your "safe spot" in a foreign country. The only reason to do that if either as an obvious sign of protest regarding that country's policies or if you regard that "safe spot" to no longer be safe (e.g. the embassy is about to be over-run)

 

[TwiceOver]

Next week they'll arrest 3+ people then say how the NSA spying program saved us from whatever and then the public will be "OK" keeping the program

 

[boomerang]

It's the result of the resounding success of Obama in his dealings with Muslim nations. His upbringing in Indonesia, his lambasting of the Bush policies, his reaching out to our Muslim brothers has resulted in Al Qaeda being on the run. Oh wait...

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
U.S. Embassy Algiers, Algeria
U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan
U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq
U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt
U.S. Consulate Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Djibouti, Djibouti
U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh
U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar
U.S. Consulate Dubai, United Arab Emirates
U.S. Consulate Erbil, Iraq
U.S. Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan
U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait
U.S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain
U.S. Embassy Muscat, Oman
U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, Mauritania
U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Sana'a, Yemen
U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Libya

Maybe he'll come up with a better plan on the golf course this weekend. Maybe some phones or SNAP benefits would help.

 

[BlueWolf47]

It's the result of the resounding success of Obama in his dealings with Muslim nations. His upbringing in Indonesia, his lambasting of the Bush policies, his reaching out to our Muslim brothers has resulted in Al Qaeda being on the run. Oh wait...

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
U.S. Embassy Algiers, Algeria
U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan
U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq
U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt
U.S. Consulate Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Djibouti, Djibouti
U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh
U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar
U.S. Consulate Dubai, United Arab Emirates
U.S. Consulate Erbil, Iraq
U.S. Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan
U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait
U.S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain
U.S. Embassy Muscat, Oman
U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, Mauritania
U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
U.S. Embassy Sana'a, Yemen
U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Libya

Maybe he'll come up with a plan on the golf course this weekend.

That took longer than expected. Was waiting for someone to craft an Obama rant. You may have even beat Fox News but I doubt it. Make sure you wear your helmet when you go out today.

 

[Scotteq]

Seems a bit more than the usual reaction. You guys getting any more information over there?

Only what the US Gov't tells CNN to tell us. If we want actual reporting, we have to check with the BBC.

 

[WelshBloke]

UK is shutting it's embassy in Yemen and nowhere else so looks like the threat might be specific to there.

 

[Balt]

Per CNN:

Sunday is also the 27th day of Ramadan and a particularly holy day for the world's Muslims as it is the "Night of Power," when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
It is also seen by al Qaeda's would-be martyrs as a particularly auspicious day to die. It was the day Osama bin Laden signed his will in December 2001 as he feared death from American bombs falling during the battle of Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan.

Combine that with an increase in "chatter" and you've probably got a reason to be cautious. I do wonder if it will just delay an attack rather than prevent one, though.

 

[John Connor]

As a former IDF soldier, my friends tell me that a special bombing by Israel is coming shortly. They obviously couldn't tell me when or where, but preparations are being made for a strong assault. Even the US Embassy in Israel has been closed due to possible retaliations. My guess time wise is before the Jewish Holidays which start the evening of September 4 or perhaps right after all the holidays, which is Wednesday September 25. But that could be to obvious in prediction.

This makes sense. I trust what is said here.

 

[Orignal Earl]

UK is shutting it's embassy in Yemen and nowhere else so looks like the threat might be specific to there.

I was reading about a week ago about some new militants in Yemen who have started up just to retaliate against drone strikes

 

[WelshBloke]

Per CNN:

Sunday is also the 27th day of Ramadan and a particularly holy day for the world's Muslims as it is the "Night of Power," when the first verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
It is also seen by al Qaeda's would-be martyrs as a particularly auspicious day to die. It was the day Osama bin Laden signed his will in December 2001 as he feared death from American bombs falling during the battle of Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan.

Combine that with an increase in "chatter" and you've probably got a reason to be cautious. I do wonder if it will just delay an attack rather than prevent one, though.

Ramadan happens every year and there's always chatter, this is an extraordinary response.

I think that there's either a very specific, well documented threat or the US government is getting flack over benghazi and isn't going to take the slightest risk.

 

[unokitty]

That took longer than expected. Was waiting for someone to craft an Obama rant. You may have even beat Fox News but I doubt it. Make sure you wear your helmet when you go out today.

 

[monovillage]

That took longer than expected. Was waiting for someone to craft an Obama rant. You may have even beat Fox News but I doubt it. Make sure you wear your helmet when you go out today.

Yes, how extreme that someone actually applies some blame for our foreign policy on the President of the United States.

 

[dmcowen674]

2012 Benghazi attack



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Benghazi_attack

2012 Benghazi attack Part of the 2011–present Libyan factional fighting Location Benghazi, Libya Date September 11–12, 2012
22:00 – 02:00 EET (UTC+02:00) Target United States consulate and second location (annex) Attack type Coordinated attack, armed assault, rioting, arson Weapon(s) Rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades, assault rifles, 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, truck mounted artillery, diesel canisters, mortars Deaths 4 Americans Injured (non-fatal) 3 Americans, 7 Libyans Suspected perpetrators The Imprisoned Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades;[1] Ansar al-Sharia;[2] Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb[3] Al Qaeda in Iraq;[4] Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula[5]

 

[boomerang]

That took longer than expected. Was waiting for someone to craft an Obama rant. You may have even beat Fox News but I doubt it. Make sure you wear your helmet when you go out today.

It's not a rant, it's reality. We've been told numerous times that the war on terror is over, that Al-Qaeda is on the run, etc. I don't know if I would classify these as lies. I mean they are, but to a prog, they are the results they wished for. The intention was good, the plan was executed and just because it failed, that is no reason to declare it a failure. It's not truly an ego thing, it's a maturity thing.

You're wearing the hat buddy and proudly too.

 

[gevorg]

gotta keep the boogeyman alive

 

[Fenixgoon]

gotta keep the boogeyman alive

this

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Since the NSA revelations I can't take anything Obama says as true. This may be real or it may be an attempt to increase support for the WOT. I'd say the wisest thing would to treat these as legit for safety purposes and continue with skepticism. I think there's no more basis for trust than that which Cheney merits. YMMV.

 

[Anarchist420]

Next week they'll arrest 3+ people then say how the NSA spying program saved us from whatever and then the public will be "OK" keeping the program

My thoughts exactly.

My mom was getting all scared when she heard about it last night on abc and I told her it will probably be a false flag attack (or a report of a never-existing attack) to keep the NSA propped up or even strengthen it.