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| U.S. Cancels Celebration in Bahrain, Renews Warning |
| 2004-07-04 |
| The U.S. Embassy's Independence Day celebration in Bahrain was canceled and family members of embassy staff and nonessential workers were asked to leave on Saturday, a day after a mandatory evacuation order for other Americans. An employee at the U.S. Embassy in Manama told Reuters the embassy canceled July 4 celebrations, which were scheduled for Tuesday at a hotel in the capital, "due to security concerns related to the advisory." The U.S. government has issued a steady stream of warnings about the Gulf kingdom since Thursday, despite protestations from Bahrain's prime minister, who said his country was secure and able to protect residents. "The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer travel to Bahrain. American citizens currently in Bahrain are urged to consider departing," the U.S. Embassy said in an advisory on Thursday. "The Department has received information that extremists are planning attacks against U.S. and other Western interests in the kingdom of Bahrain. Credible information indicates that extremists remain at large and are planning attacks in Bahrain." The new warning, issued on Saturday night, said families of embassy staff and nonessential employees should consider voluntary evacuation, a State Department spokeswoman said. The Department of Defense issued a mandatory evacuation order on Friday for nonemergency employees and families of American military personnel. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld approved the "temporary relocation," lasting at least 30 days. Bahrain urged Americans to stay. "Bahrain has been and still is an oasis of safety, security and stability ... and is capable of protecting the interests of all individuals and institutions that it hosts," said Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #13 A4617 - He's an ace. :-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-04 1:27:25 PM |
| #12 .com, Thanks! |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-04 1:21:33 PM |
| #11 A4617- I received a response regards the rumor of a chemical attack in Bahrain. Rather than piecemeal it to you, I'll just annonymize and quote in total. You'll note he's from the UK - and I'm damned worried about him, even though I know he's a tough as nails Scot and can take care of himself, heh.: At the moment the intel seems to suggest that there may be an incident in Bahrain aimed at US Navy folks. A fairly large number live in compounds or apartments in and around Manama, particularly those with families. Up until last week there was a general rule that no more than 50% of any apartment block or compound could be filled by US personnel but they have changed this to 25% and consequently there are a lot of people having to move to other accommodation under order. Just more of the "lets get the soft targets" strategy currently being employed. Most folks seem to think that these freaks just want to take the whole of the Middle East back to the dark ages. They will be in control of course. Since the Khobar blood bath the security on the causeway has been ramped up, if you can call perpetual kerb crawling by the police on both sides of the central island ramped up. They also have continuous boat patrols on both sides just going back and forward to keep other craft away from the elevated parts of the roadway. I have seen no evidence of armed patrols or even fixed gun emplacements anywhere on the causeway. There is a roadblock security point about 200yds from the toll booths that you have to negotiate but half the time they don't show much interest. Your rumour about chemicals is probably just that. Chemicals do not differentiate based on religious inclination and these folks have already scored a couple of own goals which hurt their cause. One thing is for sure, if they decide to start anything in Bahrain the Government there will crush the dissidents PDQ, not like their brothers on the dark side who are not sure who is or isn't on board. Just for your information, Al Rushaid are closing Village 3 where I live by mid July. I have moved over to an apartment in Bahrain at the weekend. Don't have a phone yet, have to acquire the CPR card first but should have that done in another week. The Petroleum Centre is beginning to look like Stalagluft 47 with fences and barbed wire but pales into insignificance when you look at the compound area from the BQ right round to Al Bustan. Armed guards, Pillboxes, razorwire the full nine yards. The Khobar "Green Zone" Life is "interesting" Well, I dunno if that answers your specific query well, but that's what he had to say... Looks like Al Bustan, The Khobar "Green Zone", has lost it charms, heh, glad I'm gone. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-04 1:00:42 PM |
| #10 musta had em surrounded.... stay safe and get out intact! Frank |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-07-04 12:37:38 PM |
| #9 Thanks Paul and Seafarious. We will be out here July 21st. 4th of July celebration..Saudi style: There was a shoot out around 2:00 PM in the Azizia souk, better known as the Panda Mall. Nobody was hurt and everybody escaped! |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-04 12:14:21 PM |
| #8 Anonymous4617----Stay safe over there. Let us know when you are safely out of the Magic Kingdom. Our thoughts are with you on this 4th of July. We have sand up here, too, but confined to places with water nearby, heh heh. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-07-04 11:55:43 AM |
| #7 A4617, that well and truly sucks. This "nation", the "Kingdom" of "Saudi" Arabia, won't let Christians be christian or Americans be american. Why are we putting up with this s***, again? Oh and A1781, welcome to Rantburg. Happy Independence Day to all of you expat Americans and right-thinking people living behind the Oil Curtain... BTW., you're all invited to DC when you get back Stateside! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-07-04 11:51:52 AM |
| #6 Anonymous5295, I live in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. But thanks anyways for the invitation. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-04 11:07:03 AM |
| #5 5295,that was me. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-07-04 8:52:14 AM |
| #4 5295,that was me. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-07-04 8:52:13 AM |
| #3 4617,what are you talking about? Come to Globe Arizona,or Roosevelt Lake. Globe has a real nice small town fireworks show and parade.People will be haveing large family outings at Roosevelt for BBQ,fishing sking,etc. I proudly display the American flag,and have a Flag sticker on the windshield and rear glass of my vehicle(so you can see it coming and going). Who is us,1781? |
| Posted by: Anonymous5295 2004-07-04 8:18:43 AM |
| #2 For us, we decided to have the 4th of July celebration the same day as the National day of Kuwait |
| Posted by: Anonymous1781 2004-07-04 3:44:41 AM |
| #1 Cancel celebrations? What celebrations? After Sept. 11th, the 4th of July has been celebrated in May. We are all terrified of even wearing a t-shirt with the flag on it, let alone having a party to celebrate. |
| Posted by: Anonymous4617 2004-07-04 1:13:47 AM |