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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 9 -15 November 2000 Issue No.507
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Bunkering down
By Thomas GorguissianThe destroyer USS Cole -- towed by a Norwegian ship under escort by another US warship -- is well on its journey home to Norfolk, Virginia. The 8,600-ton destroyer, which was attacked in Aden last month, is expected to arrive at its home port on 10 December, said the company in charge of the operation just after the convoy had rounded Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The shorter route to the United States, which passes through the Suez Canal, was rejected by US officials citing "security concerns."
Highlighting the extent of US worries was its navy's refusal last week to comment on the route by which the Cole would return home. Navy officials, reported Reuters, declined to confirm or deny comments made by an Egyptian official to the offices of the same news agency in Cairo, to the effect that the Cole would pass through the Suez Canal.
Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon denied, however, that the US military has prohibited its naval vessels from passing through Egypt's waterway due to threats by terrorists. "There is no decision to keep US ships out of the Suez Canal, for now," Bacon said. "[US] Ships pass through episodically. I think there is a false impression that ships go through daily or weekly. They do not. Sometimes weeks elapse between transit of [US] ships. We happen to be in a period now where we do not foresee any ships going through."
Setting a course for the return of Cole which avoided the Suez Canal was only one of many additional security measures taken by the US. These actions include the temporary closure of many of its embassies in the Middle East and imposition of stringent security measures on all contingents of US troops in the region, particularly in the oil-rich Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral Craig Quigley said that the threat against US interests abroad has increased in recent years. "We are not universally welcomed overseas, and some forces there have shown their objections to US military presence in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, some of them are very violent," he said.
Threat Condition Delta, the highest "threat rating" in the US military's system for assessing danger, was declared on 3 October in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia "due to credible threat information involving unspecified targets," said Pentagon spokesman Bacon. Each of these countries host approximately 5,000 US service members. The circumstances in Bahrain, Qatar and Yemen had already been evaluated as posing the maximum threat.
US citizens have also been warned by their government to take extra security precautions. Immediately following the Cole incident on 12 October, during the escalation of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in Palestine, the US State Department issued a warning to its citizens. The announcement expressed "extreme concern" about the possibility that violent actions might be taken against American citizens and interests throughout the world.
After mentioning the Cole incident, the "worldwide caution" noted that "anti-American demonstrations continue to take place in countries throughout the world in response to tensions and violence in the Middle East." Similar to recommendations expressed in travel warnings, US citizens were urged to "maintain a high level of vigilance" and "take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness."
Subsequent warnings followed in quick succession during the last weeks of October. As though to justify its advice, on 18 October the State Department made a public announcement saying, "The US Government has indications that individuals may be planning terrorist actions against United States citizens and interests in the Persian Gulf, Indonesia, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkey."
Six days later a "travel warning" was issued recommending that US citizens defer all travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Then on, 27 October, another "public announcement" was released pinpointing Egypt as a potentially dangerous locale. "The possibility exists that extremist groups may be planning terrorist acts in Egypt and in other areas of the region," asserted the warning notice.
Mindful of the tradition among US expatriate communities to throw parties marking presidential elections, the State Department has reportedly asked Americans in the Middle East in particular to exercise caution and to keep a low profile on the day of the event. Parties marking the US elections were cancelled or moved to venues deemed secure in Israel, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Indonesia and Egypt have protested against the US warnings, saying that tensions in their countries were not at levels justifying that Americans be advised to refrain from visiting them. Like several other Asian countries with large Muslim populations, Indonesia witnessed numerous student demonstrations in support of Palestinians. Similar protests have taken place in Egypt and throughout the Arab world.
Pentagon sources noted that the Egyptian government was being consulted on security arrangements in light of the heightened tension in the region related to the Al-Aqsa Intifada in occupied Palestine.
Related stories:
'A valid fear' 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000
Whose anger? 19 - 25 October 2000
See Intifada in focus 26 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2000
Intifada special 19 - 25 October 2000
Palestine pages 12 - 18 October 2000
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