April 16, 2007

MEMORANDUM

Kuwait City

To:         All American Wardens

From:     Consular Section

Subject:  Warden Notice 2007 – 5 


Please circulate the following message without additions or omissions immediately to all American citizens within your area of responsibility:

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Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas.  This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated October 11, 2006 and expires on October 9, 2007. 

The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas.  Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings. 

Ongoing events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East have resulted in demonstrations and associated violence in several countries.  Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning. 

In August 2006, British authorities arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.  The September 2006 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Syria and the March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan illustrate the continuing desire of extremists to strike American targets. 

Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.  The bomb attacks targeting buses carrying foreign workers in March 2007 and December 2006 in Algeria, a series of bombings in Thailand in May and September 2006 that targeted commercial and tourist destinations in the far south, and the bombings in the the Egyptian resort town of Dahab in April 2006 all illustrate how terrorists exploit vulnerabilities associated with soft targets.  Additional examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays.  Financial or economic targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the vehicle-based suicide attack on an oil facility near Mukalla and Marib in Yemen in September 2006 and the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 are such examples. 

In the wake of the August 2006 plot against aircraft in London, numerous terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems.  In addition, extremists may also select aviation and maritime services as possible targets.  

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.  For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.  These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services 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 abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. 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, 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 1-202-501-4444.

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The Consular Section of the Embassy of the United States of America is pleased to announce that effective Sunday, April 1, 2007, our staff will be available to answer your telephone inquiries related to American citizen, immigrant and nonimmigrant Visa Services daily (Saturdays - Wednesdays) between the hours of 2:00pm and 4:00pm.  Of course, Embassy staff members will remain available for emergency calls 24 hours a day, 365 days per year through our duty officer.  The Embassy's telephone number is +965 259-1001. 

The Embassy's telephone answering network will also be improved to provide recorded information to answer the most frequently asked consular questions including our hours of operations, the Embassy's location and instructions for applying for our services.  We remind all visitors that most information can be found online at http://kuwait.usembassy.gov. 

This message may be accessed on the Embassy website, http://kuwait.usembassy.gov
American citizens in Kuwait who would like to receive future Warden Messages from the Embassy directly by e-mail may sign up for this service by sending an e-mail to the following address: join-wardenmessagekuwait@mh.databack.com 

American citizens resident and visiting in Kuwait who are not registered with the Embassy, or whose registration information has changed, are urged to register as soon as possible.  They may now do so on-line at the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp 

American citizens also may register in person by coming with their passport to the American Citizen Services Unit, Consular Section, from 9 AM to 11 AM and from 1 PM to 3 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays; on Mondays from 1 PM to 3 PM; and on the first Sunday of each month from 5 PM to 7 PM.