Posted on 05/02/2011 5:51:28 AM PDT by EBH
RIYADH: The US Embassy in Riyadh has issued a new alert warning American citizens traveling and residing abroad of possible anti-American violence following the killing of Osama Bin Laden, who was hunted as the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack on the US soil.
Other Western embassies have asked their staffers and their citizens to remain vigilant, but have not upgraded or renewed the security advisory.
"Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, US 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," said the new warden message issued by the US embassy, here. US citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times, it said.
This US travel alert, which expires on August 1, 2011, calls on all US entities to be at "a heightened state of alert."
"The US government facilities worldwide may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture," said the message, asking the US citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends. The American citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to receive the latest travel updates and information, the message said.
Asked about the security advisory from the EU countries, a European diplomat said that most of the Western embassies welcomed the news of the killing of Bin Laden, but they have not officially upgraded their security level. The local US embassy released a copy of US President Barack Obama statement also. "The embassy will release further information as and when it receives," said a spokesman of the American embassy here Monday.
On behalf of the European Union, a joint statement by President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, released on Monday welcomed the news of the killing of Bin Laden.
"Osama Bin Laden was a criminal responsible for heinous terrorist attacks that cost the lives of thousands of innocent people," said the statement, a copy of which was sent to Arab News.
"His death makes the world a safer place and shows that such crimes do not remain unpunished. This is a major achievement in our efforts to rid the world of terrorism," said the statement.
It further said that "the European Union continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States, our international partners and our friends in the Muslim world" in combating the scourge of global extremism and in building a world of peace, security and prosperity for all.
The world's most wanted man was killed in a raid early Monday by US forces in Abbotabad, about 60 miles northeast of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Bin Laden had a $25-million bounty on his head set by the US. Yossef Bodansky, a terrorism expert who wrote a biography of Bin Laden, labeled him "the man who declared war on America."
Asked about his comments on the killing of Bin Laden, who was born in Saudi Arabia in 1957, Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, a spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Interior, refused to speak on the subject. He said that the ministry of any other Saudi government agency would may or may not comment on this issue as it had more international dimension.
In 1994, Saudi Arabia stripped Bin Laden of his citizenship. Many members of his family, closely linked to the monarchy, had disavowed him long before. Thin, bearded and over 6 feet tall (1.8 meters), Bin Laden joined the Afghans' war against invading Soviet troops in the 1980s and gained a reputation as a courageous and resourceful commander.
Bin Laden was on the American Federal Bureau of Investigation's lists of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" and Most Wanted Terrorists due to his involvement in the 1998 US embassy bombings. Since 2001, Bin Laden and his organization had been major targets of the US war on terror. He and his associates were also blamed for the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000, which killed 17 American sailors at that time.
I feel less safe today than I did two days ago...
I have to wonder if the timing for this “approval” to move in the allow our MILITARY to kill Osama was planned/timed by Obama’s handlers? I mean...we are now going to be targets for attack from radicals moreso than ever. If we are attacked again the Great Zero is hoping he can gather the momentum from being Great Leader during time of crisis as Bush did.
Personally, the guy could not do anything to deserve even a slight acknowledgement from me for anything he does. It is purely for the purpose of keeping his grand vacation home (i.e. the White House.)
I feel less safe EVERY day Zero remains in office...most unsafe feeling I get though is in my bank account!
Have to wonder if this is the reason the royal couple postponed their honeymoon. It is said to be because of security concerns. We may have tipped officials off that things could get ugly.
I have no doubts regarding reprisals. They will happen. Maybe not today or next week, but much swifter than our own reaction to 9/11. It is the scale that is unknown.
Osama was a very calculating man. His death or capture would have had plans. We don’t know or may be we do know what those reprisals will be. Osama’s followers are not just going to put down their jihad and go home.
Clinton passed on his opportunity to take out Osama. A strategic error at that time.
Bush attempted to find him and in fact if this hunt has been going on at this location for 4 years...Bush is the one who signed the original order.
Obama either didn’t retract the order or was in agreement with it or didn’t think our military would succeed. Which given recent events in the Middle East, I’m not sure this wasn’t actually a strategic error of timing?
Under Bush, I would be less concerned. Under 0bama, I’m scared and concerned.
The left is celebrating this as a strategic victory when in reality it is a minor tactical event. The real threat now is Iran, Egypt, Turkey, the flotilla, and the month of May for the state of Israel. Possibly an EMP attack against us.
The reason for this celebration have more to do with the 2012 elections than anything else.
I don’t know, but even last night the announcement ...
my first thought was...how anti-climactic.
While killing the POS is cause for celebration, his death has heightened the danger of expanded terrorist attacks.
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