Pentagon to Evacuate Some Americans from Bahrain

Reuters ^ | July 2, 2004 | Reuters

[FairOpinion]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon issued a mandatory evacuation order on Friday for nonemergency U.S. defense employees and family members of American military personnel in Bahrain, because of concern about planned attacks by extremists on U.S. and Western targets in the Gulf state. The kingdom is home to the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the "temporary relocation," lasting at least 30 days, after the State Department issued an advisory about planned attacks.

"Credible information indicates that extremists remain at large and are planning attacks in Bahrain," the advisory stated.

The move came less than two weeks after Bahrain arrested six men on suspicion of supporting al Qaeda and planning attacks in the Gulf state, but then freed them because of lack of evidence.

"At this point, it is a mandatory departure," said Pentagon spokesman Jim Turner. "However, we are monitoring the situation closely. Commanders constantly assess the threat and take measures as appropriate to protect service members, civilian employees and their families."

The nonemergency employees and family members of U.S. military personnel were expected to relocate to the United States, Turner said.

The State Department earlier warned U.S. citizens to defer travel to Bahrain, and said American citizens currently in Bahrain were urged to consider departing.

[FairOpinion]

"At this point, it is a mandatory departure," said Pentagon spokesman Jim Turner

There must be some really serious threat for them to make it mandatory.

[Brad’s Gramma]

That's my first thought, too.

[az_jdhayworth_fan]

I think the threat came from really good intelligence because my ex-husband has been there for 2 and a half years and all I've ever heard from my girls is how "safe" it is there.

I think he's been trying to keep them from worrying. Now I'm worried. He's not there for the military, so I would guess that they will be sending him elsewhere. I know my girls are a bit worried now. Hope all goes well.