Warden Message
SEPTEMBER
18, 2003
THE
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES IS TRANSMITTING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
THROUGH THE EMBASSY WARDEN SYSTEM AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO AMERICAN
CITIZENS IN THE PHILIPPINES. PLEASE DISSEMINATE THIS MESSAGE
TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION OR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU.
Public
Announcement
Worldwide
Caution
September
11, 2003
U.S.
Department of State
THIS
SUPERSEDES THE WORLDWIDE CAUTION DATED JULY 29, 2003. IT IS BEING
ISSUED TO REMIND U.S. CITIZENS OF THE CONTINUING THREAT OF TERRORIST
ACTIONS THAT MAY TARGET U.S. CITIZENS AND TO UPDATE THESE POTENTIAL
THREATS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ANNIVERSARY DATE OF THE SEPTEMBER
11, 2001 ATTACKS. 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.
THIS WORLDWIDE CAUTION EXPIRES ON FEBRUARY 10, 2004.
WITH THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ATTACKS
UPON US, WE ARE SEEING INCREASING INDICATIONS THAT AL-QAIDA IS
PREPARING TO STRIKE U.S. INTERESTS ABROAD. LOOKING AT THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, AL-QAIDA AND ITS ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE STRUCK
IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN RIYADH, IN NORTH AFRICA IN CASABLANCA, AND
IN EAST ASIA IN INDONESIA. WE THEREFORE ASSESS THAT EUROPEAN OR
EURASIAN LOCATIONS COULD BE VENUES FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF ATTACKS,
POSSIBLY TO CLOSELY COINCIDE WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER
11 ATTACK. WE EXPECT AL-QAIDA WILL STRIVE FOR NEW ATTACKS THAT
WILL BE MORE DEVASTATING THAN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACK, POSSIBLY
INVOLVING NONCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS SUCH AS CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
AGENTS. WE ALSO CANNOT RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AL-QAIDA TO
ATTEMPT A SECOND CATASTROPHIC ATTACK WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
TERRORIST ACTIONS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUICIDE
OPERATIONS, HIJACKINGS, BOMBINGS OR KIDNAPPINGS. THESE MAY ALSO
INVOLVE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND THREATS TO INCLUDE CONVENTIONAL
WEAPONS, SUCH AS EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. TERRORISTS DO NOT DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN OFFICIAL AND CIVILIAN TARGETS. THESE MAY INCLUDE FACILITIES
WHERE AMERICAN 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
ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE LOCAL NEWS AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH
THE NEAREST AMERICAN 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, U.S. 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
1-317-472-2328.
