U.S. warns Americans in Saudi Arabia, closes embassy

[DeSwiss]

Source: World Tribune.com

Monday, March 16th, 2015 | Posted by WorldTribune.com

The U.S. embassy in Riyadh closed its offices today and warned Americans in the country to be on alert.

A statement on its website said consular services had been cancelled in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran on March 16, and that telephone service would also be suspended.

“All U.S. citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, and take extra precautions when traveling throughout the country,” the U.S. stated.

“The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia and limit non-essential travel within the country.”

Read more: http://www.worldtribune.com/2015/03/16/u-s-warns-americans-in-saudi-arabia-closes-embassy/

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- Best move we've made in the Middle East in a long, long time......

[center][/center]

[George II]

1. This was reported here two days ago.

[ND-Dem]

2. ok, i must have missed something. what's going on in SA?

[cascadiance]

4. Perhaps with Saudi Arabia now joining the coalition to go after ISIS, there are concerns here...

... where Americans living there will be more apt to be prone to ISIS attacks, since a lot of the funding for ISIS come from various sources within Saudi Arabia too, who are probably PO'd both with Saudi leadership and the Americans stationed there now.

[DeSwiss]

5. I believe ''it'' has begun. n/t

[bemildred]

9. +1.

Certainly seems like the time for it.

[countryjake]

7. There was a threat to kidnap Western oil workers last week...

US embassy in Saudi Arabia halts services over 'heightened security fears' Sunday 15 March 2015
Move follows a warning citing information about threat to kidnap Western oil workers, including Americans, from oil fields in the kingdom’s eastern province

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/15/us-embassy-saudi-arabia-halts-services-security-fears

The US embassy in Riyadh and two other diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia are cancelling all consular services for two days over security fears.

The embassy says it and missions in Jiddah and Dhahran will provide no consular services Sunday and Monday due to “heightened security concerns”. It did not elaborate.

The move follows a warning by the embassy Friday citing information about a threat by militants to kidnap Western oil workers, including Americans, from oil fields in the kingdom’s eastern province.

From 2003 to 2007, al-Qaida-linked militants carried out attacks in Saudi Arabia aimed at destabilizing the Western-allied monarchy, including deadly bombings of residential compounds housing foreigners in Riyadh in 2003. The kingdom now is taking part in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group.

(bolding within the article is mine)

[ND-Dem]

10. thank you.

[silverweb]

3. Sunday & Monday only.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Doesn't sound terribly ominous.

A tweet, nothing on the embassy website:
http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-03-14/us-embassy-in-riyadh-closed-for-consular-services/

[DeSwiss]

6. Well, ominous is the byword these days.....

Pope Francis Calls For Mercy and Jubilee, Says His Papacy Will Be Short.....

- Don't touch that dial......

[silverweb]

8. Yes, I did see that.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]My first thought was that maybe he has health problems we know nothing about.

[MBS]

13. Yeah,that was my worry too.

I want him to be around a long time.

[silverweb]

14. Absolutely.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]He can't change church policy to satisfy everyone's issues and I don't buy into the dogma, but he's already brought new attitudes and policies that have been sorely needed for a very long time.

[QED]

11. With "friends" like these.... n/t