This was posted at 4:04 EST on my Internet news headline service...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday issued a worldwide caution to its citizens traveling abroad through the start of the New Year and Ramadan, citing "credible information that terrorists are planning attacks" against them.

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 11, 1999

Answers

It will be interesting to see how much emphasis this receives by the media in the coming days. It could have an interesting impact on potential Xmas/New Year's travel plans by DGI's who were planning to fly to someplace warm in the Carribean.

It could also have an impact on parents whose kids are planning to fly to various parts of the world right after 1/1/2000 for their "semester abroad" studies in college...

Stay tuned...

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 11, 1999.

Thanks Ed.

Of course we could always stay here in the US where it's safe:

Two important releases from Clark Staten of ERRI. A new warning against anti-US/UN terrorism. (stay alert in Seattle.), interview w/ ex sov biowar scientist.

-- (iwant@my.mama), December 11, 1999.

Wholey $#!+ no joke! So is the kettle heating up to perceptible heat for the frogs? YES, the news is snowballing, but the frogs aren't noticing that either.

YIKES

And you've been wondering when the State Dept would get around to warning travelers / American occupants in foreign countries ...

-- come home! (all@back.to.USA.now), December 11, 1999.

Saturday December 11 4:35 PM ET

U.S. Issues Global Travel Caution for Attacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Saturday issued a worldwide caution to its citizens traveling abroad through the start of the New Year and Ramadan, citing ``credible information that terrorists are planning attacks'' against them.

The State Department said in a statement it had information indicating attacks ``could be planned for locations throughout the world where large gatherings and celebrations will be taking place.''

It urged Americans traveling or living abroad ``to review their security practices, to remain alert to the changing situation and to exercise caution.''

American citizens should ``avoid large crowds and gatherings, keep a low profile, and vary routes and times of all required travel,'' the advisory said.

It said Americans traveling or living abroad should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.

The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan begins next week.

The State Department statement gave no specifics, but Washington regards Saudi-born terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden as one of the most dangerous threats to Americans.

Believed to be based in Afghanistan, he is accused of being behind the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa which killed more than 200 people.

-- when will they issue this (to@Americans.in.USA?), December 11, 1999.

Hey, perfect time to buy airline stocks. The airlines will no doubt benefit from a horde of non-travellers inspired by this news, especially if there is an actual bombing. You could buy now at super inflated prices and really lose your shirt in about, oh, three weeks.

You could one of the few people on YOUR BLOCK to have flubbed up an 18 year bull market opportunity. Buy transports now!

-- paul leblanc (bronyaur@gis.net), December 11, 1999.

Nah, the herd will snooze-ignore thru it, more of the same-same re crazy militant Islamic terorists blah blah blah blah

-- put to sleep (walking@dead.zone), December 11, 1999.

*Sigh*

There are more darned circling sharks in the Y2K global pit!

Diane, staying quietly at home

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.

Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,n o!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh ,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no! Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,n o!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh ,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no! Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,n o!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh ,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no! Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,no!Oh,n

-- 8 (8@8.com), December 11, 1999.

"The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan begins next week."

Sorry, guys, you missed the boat. The first fasting day of Ramadan was Thursday December 9. The month will end somewhere around the 7th or 8th of January... waaaaaay after roll-over. Nice try, go find some other scapegoat. :-)

-- cassie (iam1@muslim.com), December 12, 1999.

Hey Ohno! - That's very funny. You're the perfect cartoon voice popping in at the best times!

You must be a troll because a thread of your's was deleted, but I think your funny, so I hope you continue.

I hear a voice that's a cross between Dorothy(wizard of OZ) and Tweetie Bird.

-- Gregg (g.abbott@starting-point.com), December 12, 1999.

And my neighbors are leaving for Italy in the morning and won't return until 1st week of Feb. But he says Y2k is just a hoax to sell computers. This guy is the typical Ugly American and I can just see him trying to break the soup line because he is an American. He will be lucky if he is not shot over there.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), December 12, 1999.

well, they needed a reason for marshall law--they got it.

-- Curly~Q (Curly@Q.com), December 12, 1999.

How about this little gem from today's San Francisco Examiner, buried in the middle of a generally optimistic article ["Flying Empty Skies," page B-1]:

Singapore Airlines, which flies to Pacific Rim destinations from SFO, says it started readying computers for 2000 four years ago and is confident that all systems are go. "Y2K is going to be about little inconveniences here and there, not big stuff," said SIA spokesman James Boyd.

SIA, which claims to have the worlds youngest fleet of aircraft, isnt worried about any big things going wrong, but plans to make sure that none of its aircraft is aloft at midnight Greenwich Mean Time--midnight for international aviation, Boyd said.

Heh, heh. Just making sure ... nothing to worry about.

It will be interesting to see how much emphasis this receives by the media in the coming days. It could have an interesting impact on potential Xmas/New Year's travel plans by DGI's who were planning to fly to someplace warm in the Carribean.

No need to go to the Caribbean: the southwest is a beautiful place this time of year. Until not long ago, I lived in Phoenix, up on the north side a stone's throw from Black Mountain. Warm in the daytime, as a human habitat should be. Cold at night, the stars shone like pearles. Only problem we had was the kids who liked to go out in the desert at night and shoot off firecrackers. The sheriff eventually ran 'em out.

-- Alan Rushby (arushby@yahoo.com), December 12, 1999.

I wonder how they are going to distinguish between the credible threats and the thousand-fold-greater number of threats from "Beavis and Butthead" types of pranksters. All in all it may be quite messy if water and 911 are going kaput in widespread areas.

-- coprolith (coprolith@fakemail.com), December 12, 1999.