Just make sure the temperature is right.
Hot cheese can cause nasty burns!
Posted on 03/22/2002 9:54:14 AM PST by codebreaker
Just announced all U.S. non-emergency personnel to evacuate.
No official government statement yet.
We might start going after Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
Just make sure the temperature is right.
Hot cheese can cause nasty burns!
Pakistan - Travel Warning
March 18, 2002
This Travel Warning is being issued to warn American citizens to defer travel to Pakistan. The Department has authorized the voluntary departure of dependents of U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel in Pakistan. The March 17 attack on worshippers at a church service in Islamabad underscores the possibility that terrorists may seek civilian targets. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Pakistan dated March 2, 2002.
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Pakistan. Terrorist groups have demonstrated a willingness to hit civilian as well as official targets. An American journalist was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Karachi in early 2002. The Department has reports that American citizens generally have been targeted for kidnapping or other terrorist actions. The March 17 attack on worshippers at the Protestant International Church in Islamabad underscores the growing possibility that as security is increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers will seek less well-protected targets. These may include facilities where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit, such as clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools or outdoor recreation events.
As a result of these concerns, the Department has approved the authorized (voluntary) departure of eligible family members of Embassy and Consulate personnel in Pakistan. The Consulates in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi will remain open for American citizen services but not visa services. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is open for all services, including visa services. However, from time to time, the missions in Pakistan may temporarily close or suspend public services as necessary to review their security posture.
The Government of Pakistan continues to give full support to the international campaign against terrorism. While public sympathy for the Taliban and Al-Qaida has apparently lessened, it still exists to some degree. In addition, the presence of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan requires that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan take appropriate security measures. Events in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence.
American citizens should also be aware that there are many areas of Pakistan which are restricted by the Government of Pakistan and require non-Pakistanis to obtain official permission before they may travel to them. This includes the tribal areas of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province, areas along the Line of Control, the Pakistan-India border and near other sensitive areas and facilities. Travelers need to determine beforehand whether the areas they intend to visit have any Pakistan government restrictions on them. If so, then the appropriate authorities must be contacted and approval obtained before travel is undertaken.
Americans who reside in or visit Pakistan should exercise maximum caution and take prudent measures. They should avoid crowds, demonstrations, and areas where Americans generally congregate.
U.S. citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to register and obtain updated security information at the American Embassy in Islamabad, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, or the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar at the following addresses:
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/03/22/national1414EST0632.DTL
(03-22) 11:14 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department on Friday ordered dependents and non-essential workers at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. consulate in Lahore to leave the country.
Secretary of State Colin Powell informed President Pervez Musharraf of the decision to scale down the staff by telephone from Monterrey, Mexico, where Powell was accompanying President Bush on a visit.
Pakistani security agencies have been exploring possible al-Qaida links to a wave of terrorist strikes, including a grenade attack on a church that killed two Americans and three other people, the government said Wednesday.
No specific reason was given by State Department spokesman Philip Reeker for the ordered departure. He said the embassy and consulate would be able to function and to service Americans in the South Asian country.
Reeker said the department was satisfied with Musharraf's security measures, but still thought it prudent to order the dependents and non-essential workers to leave. He said he did not know how many Americans were involved.
Security officials in Pakistan have said they plan a crackdown on religious extremists.
The attacks could possibly be a reaction to Pakistan's decision to join the international coalition against terrorism, Information Minister Nisar Memon said Wednesday.
At the same time, Reeker announced the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia, would be closed at least until Monday for a review of its security arrangements.
There goes my vacation plans
I think you're right. Musharraf probably just gave our forces permission to operate in Pakistan and we're pulling out hard-to-protect potential hostages.
"Apparently (and this is just my guess) Musharref has somehow conveyed to us, and the U.S. has determined, that he can't guarantee the safety of our citizens in his country, and he doesn't want any retaliations (for whatever's going on with Daniel Pearl's case) against our citizens to be blamed on him.
We might start going after Al-Qaeda in Pakistan."
I suppose it could be pre-emptive, in that Omar Sheikh is going on trial for Danny Pearl's murder and US authorities expect trouble. Or it could have been the uncovering of a specific new plot against Americans.
But this decision wouldn't have been made lightly.
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