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State Department urges non-essential diplomats...
Drudge ^

Posted on 12/17/2003 1:37:22 PM PST by RoughDobermann

and families of American officials to leave Saudi Arabia...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: saudiarabia; statedept; travelwarning; usembassy
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To: Trust but Verify
While there could be something really big or unusual going on, there doesn't seem to be any difference between this advisory and others issued in the past.

Very true, and I don't contest that. Just seems odd that this advisory comes on the heels of Saudi Arabia's sudden swing to the Jihadist interpretation of stuffed animal toys and all that. That's all I'm saying.

61 posted on 12/17/2003 3:00:13 PM PST by Prime Choice (Leftist opinions may be free, but I still feel like I'm getting ripped off every time I receive one.)
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To: RoughDobermann
Check this out too - weird, why was news about the fax released today if it was dated in October?:

Saudi Arabian International School to Close
Roger Harrison, Arab News Staff

Saudi Arabian International School, known as the American School in Jeddah, has been in existence for 52 years.

JEDDAH, 17 December 2003 — The Saudi Arabian International School (SAIS) is to close. Saudi Arabian Airlines, the school sponsor, has decided that the school is redundant and will cease to function at the end of the 2003/04 school year.

A fax sent by Saudia to the school, dated Oct. 12, said the airline’s human resources department had issued a circular stating that the school “will be closed by the end of the school year 2003/2004.” The school had to “take all necessary steps to implement this directive” and to inform staff and parents of the decision.

“The school has become redundant,” the public relations office of Saudia told Arab News.

Known as the American School, it has been in existence for 52 years, is fully accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has 717 pupils.

Saudia has not informed the parents directly. It has also refused to divulge the fate of the considerable assets of the school.

With the airline nearly 100 percent Saudized, Saudia believes that the school — which was set up for children of its expatriate staff — “has become redundant.” It says its “core business is to run an airline” — all the more important with its pending privatization.

According to Saudia, all assets “belong 100 percent to the airline and will be dealt with in accordance with the airline’s established policies and procedures.” It declined to detail those procedures or explain who paid for the assets.

The school has a good reputation, high-quality teaching staff and comprehensive physical infrastructure, which makes a tempting package to sell to private investors as a going concern. Some parents believe this is an asset-stripping move by Saudia prior to privatization.

The parents are attempting to reorganize as a not-for-profit school under the name of the American International School of Jeddah, to provide continuity of education for their children.

Despite repeated attempts by school administrators and an approach by US Consul General Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley to contact Saudia officials, there has been no reply. “I have a meeting request pending,” said the consul general. “We expect a response, and I’m waiting for a date.”

“For individuals who attend the school, it would be devastating if it closed,” she said. “It would be heartbreaking to have such a fine tradition of American education end in Jeddah.”

One official at the school who preferred not to be named was “devastated” by the news. “The closure is a blow; securing the considerable assets built up by the school community is entirely another matter,” a member of the school administration commented. “The future of the huge resources for teaching and providing a full school environment for the pupils are now uncertain.”

One parent, Hisham Ibrahim, said that his first reaction was shock, then anger. “It’s a fine institution and provides the education that hundreds of parents have chosen for their children,” he said. “We have heard of the closure through the school, but Saudia has offered us no reason for it. If it does close, then many parents will reconsider their careers in the Kingdom. The effect on the local economy would be considerable.”

“The school board has been looking at a variety of other avenues to keep the school open,” Abercrombie-Winstanley said. “Consulate sponsorship is one of the things they have looked at.”

Offers of financial assistance and help have come from the US business community and families of Saudi students. “It’s quite clear that there is huge support for the continuance of the school as it is,” said a senior member of the parents school board.

“They have to decide which way they want to go,” said Abercrombie-Winstanley. “We are willing to assist in any way possible. We support, without any reservations whatever the continuation of the American school in Jeddah.”

62 posted on 12/17/2003 3:09:26 PM PST by LurkedLongEnough (Wrapped in Saran Wrap wrapping.)
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To: Prime Choice
Yes, it seems the same way to me. Has anyone checked out the North East Intelligence site?
63 posted on 12/17/2003 3:10:59 PM PST by jerseygirl
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To: Catspaw
Good, Catspaw. This is no time to be worrying about them in Saudi Arabia. I hope the Balkans is a safe place to be; I haven't kept up on things there.
64 posted on 12/17/2003 3:19:15 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons have pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: kabar
You must come from the Howard Dean school of knowledge.

That was rather uncalled for. His assumptions were not bad and he even said that they were a guess.

King Fahd has not governed the country for years. He is medically incapacitated. Crown Prince Abdullah is running things without any chaos breaking out.

This does not mean that there will not be a struggle when the king dies. There are many in the royal family who do not like Abdullah.

The Saudi leadership is fighting for survival.

So true. And the US isn't rushing to help them.

Better the royal family in charge than a Khomenhi like fundamentalist government that would take its place. The two holiest places in Islam are in Saudi Arabia. Any "liberation" by the US would have momentous reverberations throuout the Islamic world.

The last time I looked Saudia Arabia was run internally like a fundamentalist state and externally it exported jihad, no matter how the Westernly the princes behave once outside Saudi Arabia. There is no way we try and liberate Saudi Arabia because of the reverberations but lock it down and let nothing out of there once it has fallen is an other matter.

65 posted on 12/17/2003 3:40:01 PM PST by Lady Heron
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To: kabar
Several people have noted the nexus between this warning and the ban on dolls and teddy bears. It may be that someone is using one or more dolls as a delivery or concealment device for a planned attack.
66 posted on 12/17/2003 3:43:56 PM PST by thoughtomator (The Federal judiciary is a terrorist organization)
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To: Lady Heron
Times like this those billions to Israel look like a great investment.
67 posted on 12/17/2003 3:44:55 PM PST by thoughtomator (The Federal judiciary is a terrorist organization)
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To: Prime Choice
Prime, forgive my ignorance in asking: what makes the Saudi Royals, royal? I recall reading something about how they are different from the Royal Family of Jordan. I also read something about the House of Saud being part "Westernized" and part "Wahabist" (sic). Can anyone explain? ("Buellar? Anyone?") Thanks!
68 posted on 12/17/2003 3:51:23 PM PST by hummingbird
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To: KantianBurke
they must have been caught with stuffed animals

LOL! Or the dreaded Jewish toy "Barbie".

69 posted on 12/17/2003 4:00:34 PM PST by Sender (“We have placed them in a quagmire from which they can never emerge except dead” -Baghdad Bob)
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To: RoughDobermann; Calpernia; Pro-Bush
Several hours ago I posted a warning from the State Department and the thread was removed because CNN had an error and made it seem like an old warning, which it is not. Please check it out and let me know what you think?

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 Posted: 11:27 PM EST (0427 GMT)- The "worldwide caution," issued Wednesday, warns that al Qaeda is pursuing actions "more devastating" than the deadly plane hijackings two years ago, and said chemical or biological weapons could be used.The State Department said it is receiving more indications that al Qaeda is preparing to strike U.S. interests overseas. However, a department official said that while there is no credible information of a possible attack, there is a lot of chatter that something is imminent

70 posted on 12/17/2003 4:04:22 PM PST by JustPiper (Saddam gives new meaning to "Ace in the Hole")
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To: Catspaw; Calpernia
With all the research we've done on the ongoing thread, I repeatedly stated in my mind Saudi would be attacked
71 posted on 12/17/2003 4:06:33 PM PST by JustPiper (Saddam gives new meaning to "Ace in the Hole")
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To: TomGuy
U.S. Urges Citizens to Leave Saudi Arabia
29 minutes ago

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 also should consider departing, the department said. 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 voluntary, with the U.S. government covering the expenses.

"We remain fully confident that Saudi authorities are doing everything they can to protect their citizens and foreign nationals in the kingdom against terrorist attacks," department spokesman Lou Fintor said. He said the department's decision was "based on the reality that the terrorist threat in Saudi Arabia remains at a critical level."

Americans who travel to the kingdom or remain there despite the warning were told to register with the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or the consulates in Jiddah and Dhahran.

"The U.S. government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests," the department said. Americans in Saudi Arabia were advised to remain vigilant, "particularly in public places associated with the Western community."

No single specific threat or piece of intelligence led to the department's action (news - web sites), said a U.S. counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Instead, the decision was based on a review of the entire terrorism picture in the kingdom.

There are some 200 to 300 nonessential U.S. officials and family members in Saudi Arabia, and about 30,000 U.S. citizens in all.

Travel by American officials and their families in Riyadh already is restricted to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Last month, 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 (news - web sites)'s al-Qaida terrorist network. Thirty-five people, including nine attackers were killed.

The State Department responded by ordering nonessential U.S. officials and family members to depart.

The diplomatic quarter east of Riyadh has been guarded heavily by Saudi armed forces since the suicide attacks.

Saudi officials say most of the weapons used in militant operations in Saudi Arabia — including the May suicide attacks — were smuggled from Yemen.
72 posted on 12/17/2003 4:09:50 PM PST by JustPiper (Saddam gives new meaning to "Ace in the Hole")
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To: Bikers4Bush
"Whoa, what the hell is going on over there?"
As the US entered Iraq a race against the clock started : while we hear about daily about the sunite triangle in fact what really matters the most is what is going on in the shiite arch.
There's a pact in Iraq for the moment - but elsewhere the clock didn't stop.
73 posted on 12/17/2003 4:13:56 PM PST by Truth666
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To: MeeknMing; FairOpinion; BagCamAddict; ganeshpuri89; pokerbuddy0; cgk; Sabertooth; ...
Ping
74 posted on 12/17/2003 4:26:20 PM PST by JustPiper (Saddam gives new meaning to "Ace in the Hole")
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To: JustPiper
You mean this:

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman


This information is current as of today,

WORLDWIDE CAUTION

November 21, 2003

This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated September 26, 2003 . It is being issued to re-emphasize the continuing threat that U.S. citizens may be a target of terrorist actions. This Worldwide Caution expires on April 21, 2004 .

The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the security of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens are cautioned to maintain a high level of vigilance, to remain alert and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. We are seeing increasing indications that Al-Qaida is preparing to strike U.S. interests abroad.

Al-Qaida and its associated organizations have struck in the Middle East in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , and in Europe in Istanbul , Turkey . We therefore assess that other geographic locations could be venues for the next round of attacks. We expect Al-Qaida will strive for new attacks designed to be more devastating than the September 11 attack, possibly involving nonconventional weapons such as chemical or biological agents. We also cannot rule out that Al-Qaida will attempt a second catastrophic attack within the U.S.

Terrorist actions may include, but are not limited to, suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings. These may also involve commercial aircraft and maritime interests, and threats to include conventional weapons, such as explosive devices. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. These may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate or visit, including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and beaches. U.S. citizens should remain in a heightened state of personal security awareness when attendance at such locations is unavoidable.

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 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. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate .

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. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2 328.

Return to Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings Page

75 posted on 12/17/2003 4:28:11 PM PST by Smogger
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To: JustPiper
The new Saudi Arabia travel advisory contains a link to that Worldwide Caution. So they are re-iterating it in a way.
76 posted on 12/17/2003 4:29:28 PM PST by Smogger
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To: angkor
But you've illustrated my point: a travel warning against Greece (due to lax airport security) would have little bearing on beachgoers sitting in Mykonos. Nor would it account for the reality that travelers will spend only 30 minutes in any Greek airport, and the odds of having a problem might actually be quite miniscule

Whatever you might think about the effectiveness of a travel warning against Greece, I can assure you the Greek government took it very seriously as did many travel agencies.

77 posted on 12/17/2003 4:31:43 PM PST by kabar (1.)
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To: Prime Choice
Didn't they do this just before that last bombing? It could be that they've caught wind of some hum-drum terrorist stuff.
78 posted on 12/17/2003 4:33:02 PM PST by MattAMiller (Saddam has been brought to justice in my name. How about yours?)
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To: Trust but Verify
Well, would you stop raining on the parade here? Jeez

I guess I must be marching to another drummer. Better not get out of step with the prevailing wisdom.

79 posted on 12/17/2003 4:35:01 PM PST by kabar (1.)
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To: MattAMiller
Didn't they do this just before that last bombing? It could be that they've caught wind of some hum-drum terrorist stuff.

They sure did. There was a warning and the next day a terrorist attack. The last time they said the threat was imminent and guess what? They were right.

80 posted on 12/17/2003 4:43:12 PM PST by Smogger
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