The US State Department has just issued what may be the vaguest travel / terror alert ever:
The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and
volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This Travel Alert expires August 1, 2011.U.S. Embassy operations in affected areas will continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation. U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.
These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
So let’s see … if I’m translating correctly from the governmentalese, “recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan” is, of course, the killing of bin Laden. I think the reference to “areas where recent
events could cause anti-American violence” means “we have no fucking idea where violence might happen; it could be anywhere but we know it will be somewhere and we wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t give you some warning, useless though it might be. Keep alert to what’s going on around you, as if that weren’t always necessary – oh, wait, this time it’s needed for men as well as women, and in good neighborhoods as well as bad ones.” I’m also pretty sure that last paragraph means “We’ll try to help if you need it, but be aware that we may be too busy keeping ourselves safe to do so. It’s probably better just not to be in unsafe places to begin with – pity we don’t know where those are, but at least you should avoid the really obvious ones.”
I can’t blame them, and they do have to say something, even if it isn’t terribly helpful. I wouoldn’t want to be walking around Islamabad today either – but given that major terror attacks have hit New York, DC, London and Madrid, it’s not like there are safe places.