State Department urges non-essential diplomats...

Anyone know what kind of numbers we're talking about?

How often does the State Dept. tell people to leave a country? Rarely. They usually issue warnings and advisories.

Al Qaeda must be gearing up for another attack.

Who needs DIP-lomats when you've got MOAB-plomats!

February 27, 2003: The U.S. Air Force is developing a new, 2nd generation, ten ton large, low air burst bomb. It will replace the older "Daisy Cutter" 7.5 ton bomb developed during the 1960s.

This was a 7.5 ton bomb using a semi-liquid explosive for clearing landing zones in the Vietnam jungle. The terms "Daisy Cutter" actually comes from the four foot probe at the bottom of the bomb which triggered the explosion without creating a crater (helicopters don't like to land in craters.)

The probe was later replaced with a radar altimeter fuze, but the nickname "Daisy Cutter" stuck. The official designation was BLU-82 (or "Big Blue"). Until the BLU-82 came along, the biggest non-nuclear explosion obtainable was with a FAE (Fuel Air Explosives).

FAE works by dropping a bomb that is actually a large aerosol dispenser. When the FAE "explodes" it first dispenses a large cloud of flammable material (anything like gasoline or propane will work). The cloud is then ignited and huge explosion results.

There's one drawback, the size and density of the aerosol cloud depends a lot on the wind, air temperature and humidity. So the power of the explosion will vary a lot. But it's difficult to get a FAE to work in a bomb larger than 2000 pounds.

The replacement for the BLU-82 bomb, called MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Burst) simply uses nine tons of more powerful tritonal explosives, rather that 6.3 tons of the slurry of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum used in the BLU-82. In dry, dusty conditions, the Daisy Cutter produces a mushroom cloud similar to that created by a nuclear explosion (and for the same reason, the sheer size of the explosion creates an upward pull that sends up a "mushroom" of smoke and dust on a column of smoke).

In addition to a more powerful explosion, MOAB doesn’t need a parachute, like the Daisy Cutter, but uses a GPS (like JDAM) and an aerodynamic body to detonate the bomb at a precise area.

Thus the MOAB can be dropped from a higher altitude (like outside the range of machine-guns and rifles). Like the Daisy Cutter, MOAB is shoved out the back of a cargo aircraft (usually a C-130, but since the MOAB uses GPS and higher altitude drops, the C-17 can probably be used as well.) MOAB is a highly destructive and terrifying weapon.

If used in Iraq, it would demoralize any Iraqi troops in the vicinity who survived the explosion. The force of a MOAB explosion is sufficient to knock over tanks and kill any people within several hundred meters of the detonation.

Probably threats of hostage taking for the release of SH.

There's a thought.

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Wed Dec 17 15:45:48 2003.

Saudi Arabia

December 17, 2003
This Travel Warning is being issued to alert Americans to the fact that, due to security concerns, the Department of State has authorized the departure of family members and non-emergency employees of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates on a voluntary basis. Private American citizens should evaluate their own security situations and should consider departing the country. This Travel Warning supersedes that of December 8, 2003.
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Saudi Arabia. Americans are reminded of the potential for further terrorist actions against U.S. citizens abroad, including in the Persian Gulf region. U.S. citizens who travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia despite this Travel Warning should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or at the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran, and enroll in the warden system (emergency alert network) to obtain updated information on travel and security in Saudi Arabia.
Due to ongoing security concerns, on December 17, 2003, the Department of State authorized the departure, on a voluntary basis, of family members and non-emergency personnel of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia. U.S. consular personnel remain available to provide emergency services to American citizens.
The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests, including the targeting of transportation and civil aviation. American citizens in Saudi Arabia should remain vigilant, particularly in public places associated with the Western community.
Terrorists have attacked residential housing compounds in the Riyadh area in 2003. Credible information indicates that terrorists continue to target residential compounds in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Riyadh area, but also compounds throughout the country.
From time to time, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia may restrict the travel of official Americans or suspend public services for security reasons. In those instances, the Embassy and Consulates will keep the local American citizen community apprised through the Warden System and make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia continues to restrict the travel of its American employees and their dependents to residential compounds in the Riyadh area to between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Restrictions on travel to other destinations have been lifted in conjunction with the Department’s approval of voluntary departure status. Warden messages can be found on the US Embassy Riyadh website: http://usembassy.state.gov/riyadh/
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. U.S. travelers can also get up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. or Canada or on a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.
U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Saudi Arabia, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov.

Return to Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings Page

This thread should be in Breaking News.

Those things look too pretty to blow up. Bet those cargo guys enjoy rolling live ordinance out the back for a change.

This is already posted in breaking news.

This is already posted in breaking news.

Yes, it is, but after I posted it first. Check the times.

Heads up to those with family in the region.

I think this was Turkey instead of Saudi Arabia and the AlQ leaders didn't like it too much that the underlings made the poor decision to target a British company that hired lots of Muslims. So sad the AlQ leaders can't control their troops.

An impending coup, perhaps? That would prompt the DoS to this, I'll wager.

You're right, it was Turkey.

When searching though I did find this thread from a "questionable source" IMHO, but it talks about new warnings.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1042184/posts

U.S. Urges Citizens to Leave Saudi Arabia

By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - Nonessential American diplomats and the families of all U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia should leave, the State (news - web sites) Department said Wednesday, stepping up its warnings about risks in the country.

Private U.S. citizens should consider leaving as well, the department said. And Americans making plans to go to Saudi Arabia were advised to defer any such travel in light of "the potential for further terrorist activities."

The departure of U.S. officials and family members was not ordered, but was voluntary. Expenses were to be paid by the U.S. government.

Americans who travel to Saudi Arabia or remain there despite the warning were told to register with the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran so arrangements can be made to keep them up to date.

"The U.S. government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests," the department said. This includes the targeting of transportation, the statement said.

"American citizens in Saudi Arabia should remain vigilant, particularly in public places associated with the Western community," the department said.

Last month, in the latest of a string of terror incidents, a housing compound in Riyadh was bombed, killing 17 people and wounding more than 100. Police arrested a Saudi citizen believed to have helped smuggle in from Yemen the weapons used in the attack, the Saudi daily Okaz reported Wednesday.

American and Saudi officials blamed that attack and suicide bombings at three other housing projects in May on Saudi exile Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network. Thirty-five people, including nine attackers were killed in the May attacks.

Saudi officials say most of the weapons used in militant operations in Saudi Arabia — including the May suicide attacks — were smuggled from Yemen.

How often does the State Dept. tell people to leave a country? Rarely. They usually issue warnings and advisories.

In terms of the embassy staff, it is a fairly common occurrence for dependents and non-essential personnel to be evacuated for a certain period of time. During Desert Storm, 32 embassies had dependents and non-essential personnel evacuated. Our embassy in Jakarta is under the same conditions now.

Non-essential personnel are designated by the embassy. Essential personnel are deemed critical to the basic operation of the mission. Everyone else is non-essential. Usually, about one-half to two-thirds of the personnel are non-essential. They come mostly from the non-State agencies as well as junior personnel from State.

There are several types of evacuations for embassy personnel, authorized (voluntary), and mandatory. This is a mandatory draw down. Warnings and advisories are issued to the general public, which is a different kettle of fish.

They did this in Indonesia after the Bali bombings.

State Dept. is not normally very prescient in anticipating actual dangers, but who knows, they could have something this time.

I've personally heard State employees declare "everything is A-OK" when I knew there was shooting happening realtime only a couple miles away.

See above, "the Department of State has authorized the departure of family members and non-emergency employees of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates on a voluntary basis."

This is a voluntary exercise, meaning State will pay the tab if non-emergency staff or dependent family choose to leave.

Re: mandatory, State can mandate that its own paid personnel and staff leave a particular location, but cannot order other U.S. citizens to leave a country even in the worst of circumstances. Even warnings and announcements can't accomplish that.

BTW, State has a widely-known bias toward being (sometimes) excessively cautious, leaving warnings up too long, being overly dismal about some countries, etc. But I've personally seen staffers do fairly admirable things while abroad, like guaranteeing hospital bills, aiding a citizen who was being physically threatened, etc. Sometimes they're very good, sometimes less than good, but I think mostly well-intentioned.

Many ambassadors are hesitant to request an evacuation of mission personnel. In some cases, they are concerned about the signal it sends to the host government. There are also legal and contractual ramifications related to US companies doing business in the country. An evacuation could trigger a withdrawal of private contractors affecting their businesses. In Iran in 1979, Amb Sullivan objected to an evacuation of mission personnel and was overruled by Washington.

In other cases, Ambassadors see an evacuation as a personal reflection on them and their relationship with the host government. Many times, the host government tries to weigh-in against an evacuation because of the domestic impact. The bottom line is that there are many factors and considerations that go into the decision and it is not taken lightly.

I missed the part about it being on a voluntary basis. In that case it is an authorized departure, not mandatory. You are correct that the USG will pay the tab for those who volunteer to leave. Each agency pays for its own people. State does not pick up the tab for everyone.

BTW, State has a widely-known bias toward being (sometimes) excessively cautious, leaving warnings up too long, being overly dismal about some countries, etc

I would take issue with State being excessively cautious. Actually, it is just the opposite. Pressure from Washington and the host government make it very difficult to issue such warnings. They have a major economic impact on the host country in terms of tourism and business. We use it as a lever in fact with the host government to get them to take various actions. For example, the Greeks have been lax about airport security. We have threatened to issue security warnings if they didn't tighten things up.

I bet they do too! I know I enjoyed it!