US Embassy Terrorist Alert

by **bumper** » January 13, 2012, 2:58 pm

Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens: Possible Terrorist Threat
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FROM:

Bangkok ACS

Message flagged
Friday, January 13, 2012 2:52 PM
This message alerts U.S. citizens in Thailand that foreign terrorists
may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in
Bangkok in the near future. U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution
when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather
in Bangkok.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain a heightened awareness when out
in public; be alert for unattended packages/bags in public/crowded
places and report any suspicious behavior to the nearest law enforcement
personnel. We also encourage you to keep a low profile in public areas,
particularly areas frequented by foreign tourists.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95
Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049,
or by e-mailing acsbkk@state.gov. The Embassy's after-hours emergency
telephone number is 66-2-205-4000. The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang
Mai is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American
Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling
66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at acschn@state.gov. The after-hours
emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

For the latest security information, you should regularly monitor the
Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website, where current
Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and
health-information resources can be found. You can also obtain
up-to-date information on security by calling 1-888-407-4747 (toll free)
in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas, by calling a
regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday (except
U.S. federal holidays).

We encourage you notify us of your presence in Thailand by enrolling in
the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

by **tutone** » January 13, 2012, 4:59 pm

I especially liked this quote by the Thai Defense Minister:

"I believe we will arrest them tonight. For Thai citizens, there is no need to announce any warning because it will cause panic and will affect our tourism."

by **bumper** » January 13, 2012, 5:25 pm

Man if there is one thing they worry about in Thailand it's tourism.

You go to the international. you won't find ,much about the South. Yet that conflict has been going on for all the nine years I have been there.

Oh well It doesn't effect me, if I were going to a tourist spot I might be a bit more careful. This is the first time I have seen worded as this one was, so they must have a reason.

by **tutone** » January 13, 2012, 5:47 pm

tutone wrote:I especially liked this quote by the Thai Defense Minister:

"I believe we will arrest them tonight. For Thai citizens, there is no need to announce any warning because it will cause panic and will affect our tourism."

Did the phrase, "Ignorance is bliss." originate in Thailand? :roll:

by **bumper** » January 13, 2012, 6:00 pm

My favorite was when they made the worlds longest bill board so a visiting President from the states couldn't see the slums. Oh if it works for them fine.

by **Jello** » January 13, 2012, 6:13 pm

Arrest made amid Bangkok terrorist threat

Updated January 13, 2012 21:39:42

From ABC news:

Thai authorities have arrested a Lebanese suspect after being warned of a possible terrorist attack in Bangkok, the deputy prime minister said on Friday, adding that police had stepped up security and he was confident the situation would be contained.

"A Lebanese suspect from the Hizbollah group has been taken into custody by Thai officials and police are investigating further," Chalerm Yumbumrung said.

"Following concern raised by the Israeli embassy about a possible attack by a group of Lebanese terrorists in Bangkok, Thai police officials had been coordinating with Israeli officials since before the new year."

Shortly before the arrest, the US embassy had warned of a possible attack by "foreign terrorists" and told its citizens to be careful. Following the American warning, the Thai government said it had been informed by the US that a pair of suspected Muslim "terrorists" had entered the kingdom.

"The US contacted us last night about two terrorists who entered Thailand and plan terrorist activities," Thai defence minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapha said.

"Our intelligence officials are working closely with the US and following the terrorists' movements closely.

"I believe we will arrest them tonight."

[link to http://www.abc.net.au]

by **bumper** » January 13, 2012, 6:28 pm

Good news

by **Jello** » January 13, 2012, 7:57 pm

Something about the article I posted I wanted to comment on. (Maybe slightly off subject).

According to the article the Israeli embassy identified the terrorist by nationality (Lebanese) and the Islamic extremist group he's associated with (Hezbollah).
ABC news (from the US) identifies the terrorists as "Muslim Terrorists".
If the US authorities are monitoring the movement of these guys they surely know their nationality and the group they belong to, but they chose to use the sweeping term "Muslim Terrorists".

It's a term you hear a lot in the US, (and maybe in other countries too, I don't know) so much so that when I hear the word Muslim, the next word that pops into my head is terrorist! This is not to say that I think all Muslims are terrorist, but I think I've heard the term Muslim-terrorist many more times that the word Muslim by itself. Thus creating this association of the two words.

It makes me wonder, is the US media trying to demonize all Muslims? :-k

Here's some interesting facts on US terrorist attacks from the FBI:

Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Soil by Group, From 1980 to 2005, According to FBI Database
from http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/01/not-al ... e-muslims/

by **tutone** » January 13, 2012, 8:26 pm

I agree that Muslim and terrorist should not routinely be phrased together. Some terrorists are Muslims, some are Christians, too. I know a few folks from the States, friends and relatives actually, that really believe Muslims live only to destroy Western Christian culture. It's sad and only seems to further divide folks. I believe this association is at the very least somewhat encouraged by the U.S. government and press. After all we are at war, and what better way to unite folks and blind them from seeing other problems like economic disparity, inadequate health care, and substandard education.

by **bumper** » January 14, 2012, 9:50 am

I really don't think of Muslims as terrorist no matter how the any media chooses to associate the words.

If that makes them happy so be it as long as I get the word there is threat that exist and I have the information to decide to expose me and mine to injury or death.

I would venture to say most will not fall into that trap, you didn't did you?

"After all we are at war, and what better way to unite folks and blind them from seeing other problems like economic disparity, inadequate health care, and substandard education."

This may apply to WW 11, or right after 9-11, today the political talk is all about the above.

by **gudtymchuk** » January 14, 2012, 11:11 am

In reference to the pie chart above I do not see any information relating to casualties associated with each of the categories.... Would be my guess that in the last 20 years, (including statistics from the 9-11 attacks) Islamic Terrorists account for the vast majority of deaths, injuries and property damage. Some people are not afraid to call a spade a spade albeit not very politically correct.

by **BobHelm** » January 14, 2012, 12:37 pm

Chalerm denies threat of terror

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 73727.html

So, it wasn't really anything at all...the Americans were over reacting & the Israelis don't know what they are talking about..

Can anyone suggest as to why Chalerm reminds me so much of Mayor Larry Vaughn of Amity Island in the movie Jaws...

by **Jello** » January 14, 2012, 7:18 pm

Thanks Bob, that article worries me more than the embassy warning! Think I'll cancel my trip to Bangkok. :shock:

Quote from the Nation:
Unclear, of course, was the status of the person or persons in custody. The latest information indicated that only one person was interrogated and no charge had yet been leveled.
An intelligence source told The Nation that one foreign man had been detained, but he was one of a few suspected terrorists who have entered the country. The man was still in custody yesterday but he had refused to give any statement, according to the source. "This suspect has entered Thailand many times,"

I don't think you appreciate the gut reaction people have to these things...Martin, It's all psychological. You yell 'Barracuda,' everybody says 'Huh? What?' You yell 'Shark,' we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July.
Quote MAYOR LARRY VAUGHN from the movie Jaws. :lol:

by **Jello** » January 14, 2012, 7:31 pm

gudtymchuk wrote:In reference to the pie chart above I do not see any information relating to casualties associated with each of the categories.... Would be my guess that in the last 20 years, (including statistics from the 9-11 attacks) Islamic Terrorists account for the vast majority of deaths, injuries and property damage. Some people are not afraid to call a spade a spade albeit not very politically correct.

That's a very good and accurate point. Their attacks are always aimed at taking out large numbers of people.
Here's a good Wiki article that lists all terrorist attacks that have happened within the domestic borders of the United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_ ... ted_States

by **Jello** » January 14, 2012, 7:38 pm

bumper wrote:I would venture to say most will not fall into that trap, you didn't did you?

No, but not everyone in the US is as smart as you and I. After all, we both left the US and live in Thailand now! :lol:

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