Given WW3, should we cancel Europe travel plans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you talking about specifically? Airbnbs? Israel/Iran? Russia/Ukraine?

The US is going to war with Iran because Israel is too weak to fight Iran. This puts a target on all Americans.

THIS. Im the OP.

You are oblivious. Israel is kicking Iran's you-know-what, and shows every sign of continuing to do so until the Iranian regime collapses. And if U.S. support to Israel makes Americans targets, that ship has sailed. It's hardly news that U.S. intelligence, resupply, and deterrent capabilities have been in play from the outset; more direct intervention by US air or naval forces will just be more obvious and will hasten the Iranian regime's demise. The global threat to U.S. persons isn't going to change. If anything, Iran's capacity to direct terror attacks against U.S. people and interests will just collapse even faster than is already happening due to their losses from Israeli direct action against the IRGC and intelligence organs.

But, do feel free to shelter in place in your back yard bunker, for fear that the long arm of Iranian vengeance is going to reach out for you. The rest of us see Iran as the Black Knight, armless and legless, but for now claiming "tis but a scratch!".

For the Palestinian Philistine, here's the reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs

Look up the 1980s. Achille Lauro. Lockerbie. Etc. All driven by chaos in the Middle East and North Africa.

Sure but that was 50 plus years ago. Achiie Lauro could not happen now because of defensive measures of cruise ships. Same way no one will take over a plane with box cutters. A bomb on a plane? World has changed and much harder. Sure not impossible but not at all likely.

I never understood the bolded. Every time I enter an airport, I do not feel a sigh of relief until I get beyond TSA and to the gate. I believe the TSA checkpoint is the most dangerous point for a terrorist attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you talking about specifically? Airbnbs? Israel/Iran? Russia/Ukraine?

The US is going to war with Iran because Israel is too weak to fight Iran. This puts a target on all Americans.

THIS. Im the OP.

You are oblivious. Israel is kicking Iran's you-know-what, and shows every sign of continuing to do so until the Iranian regime collapses. And if U.S. support to Israel makes Americans targets, that ship has sailed. It's hardly news that U.S. intelligence, resupply, and deterrent capabilities have been in play from the outset; more direct intervention by US air or naval forces will just be more obvious and will hasten the Iranian regime's demise. The global threat to U.S. persons isn't going to change. If anything, Iran's capacity to direct terror attacks against U.S. people and interests will just collapse even faster than is already happening due to their losses from Israeli direct action against the IRGC and intelligence organs.

But, do feel free to shelter in place in your back yard bunker, for fear that the long arm of Iranian vengeance is going to reach out for you. The rest of us see Iran as the Black Knight, armless and legless, but for now claiming "tis but a scratch!".

For the Palestinian Philistine, here's the reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmInkxbvlCs

As a former diplomat, I think this is a wildly overoptimistic take.

Consular?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if the U.S. attacks Iran there won't be any "WW3"; nobody is coming to rescue the Iranians; the theocracy will collapse and that will be that. There is no reason whatsoever to expect European involvement in any conflict involving Iran. Iran has no reason to attack any European countries, and lacks the capacity to actually do so beyond random terror which has always been a risk with them.

But, if you'd feel more comfortable, by all means stay home and conduct civil defense drills to make sure your fallout shelter is ready.

DP

The OP isn’t being ridiculous to be concerned.

The reality is terror threat levels will be raised across Europe. It will be acts of terrorism, not WWIII.

Having said that, drones are freely available, so I might avoid stadiums and some tourist areas. I’d also avoid public transit.

What kinds of tourist areas would you avoid? To add to this, we are American and Jewish (with a noticeable Jewish last name). Headed to France (including smaller/remote parts).

Thank you all.

My in-laws are Jewish with a Jewish last name. They are world travelers. They don’t wear Jewish jewelry when traveling and they sometimes book reservations under a first and middle name if they aren’t using tour guides that have been recommended.

Most people around the world can't recognize a Jewish name because most people around the world do not know any Jewish people. You do realize that it's a miniscule percentage of the world's population?

I'm sure she's Jewish and didn't realize that Jews are a tiny minority until you pointed it out! So helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dramatic much?

Idiot Trump and alcohol Pete with zero generals of competence what could go wrong

Yes WWIII

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you talking about specifically? Airbnbs? Israel/Iran? Russia/Ukraine?

The US is going to war with Iran because Israel is too weak to fight Iran. This puts a target on all Americans.

Trump is too weak to stand up to Israel, who are hellbent on destroying the entire Middle East. Amazing how easily we have forgotten the disasters that were US wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Such hyperbole. Regardless of your opinion of Trump, he is going to do whatever he wants. His actions will be based on his own interests, not out of weakness to "stand up to" Israel. And regardless what you think of Netanyahu, he does not want to destroy the "entire Middle East" -- only those who seek to destroy Israel. This does have the potential to become a large conflict, but your assessment is off-base.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if the U.S. attacks Iran there won't be any "WW3"; nobody is coming to rescue the Iranians; the theocracy will collapse and that will be that. There is no reason whatsoever to expect European involvement in any conflict involving Iran. Iran has no reason to attack any European countries, and lacks the capacity to actually do so beyond random terror which has always been a risk with them.

But, if you'd feel more comfortable, by all means stay home and conduct civil defense drills to make sure your fallout shelter is ready.

DP

The OP isn’t being ridiculous to be concerned.

The reality is terror threat levels will be raised across Europe. It will be acts of terrorism, not WWIII.

Having said that, drones are freely available, so I might avoid stadiums and some tourist areas. I’d also avoid public transit.

What kinds of tourist areas would you avoid? To add to this, we are American and Jewish (with a noticeable Jewish last name). Headed to France (including smaller/remote parts).

Thank you all.

My in-laws are Jewish with a Jewish last name. They are world travelers. They don’t wear Jewish jewelry when traveling and they sometimes book reservations under a first and middle name if they aren’t using tour guides that have been recommended.

Most people around the world can't recognize a Jewish name because most people around the world do not know any Jewish people. You do realize that it's a miniscule percentage of the world's population?

OMG "you do realize" that you are mansplaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s fun is that our effective counter-terrorism measures have been decimated by the dismantling of USAID. Our abominable foreign policy will absolutely increase terrorism.

USAID has been utterly ineffective in addressing global terror, if that was even part of its remit. Instead, it was simply a mechanism for transferring U.S. wealth and supplies to foreign countries, for better or for worse. Counterterror benefits, if any, would have been extremely abstract, unquantifiable, and frankly improbable.

Soft power is inherently abstract and unquantifiable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in the UK. No concern at all. Frankly I’m more concerned about Iran attacking the US than Europe.

How? Their bombs don't reach this far. They do reach southern Europe though.

Dunno, maybe they could crash a plane into a high rise building. Or use drones. Or something else on the ground. You think there aren’t people on the ground in the US?

+1 Our lackadaisical immigration policies have ensured that thousands of foreign terrorists already live here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s fun is that our effective counter-terrorism measures have been decimated by the dismantling of USAID. Our abominable foreign policy will absolutely increase terrorism.

USAID has been utterly ineffective in addressing global terror, if that was even part of its remit. Instead, it was simply a mechanism for transferring U.S. wealth and supplies to foreign countries, for better or for worse. Counterterror benefits, if any, would have been extremely abstract, unquantifiable, and frankly improbable.

Soft power is inherently abstract and unquantifiable.

And is, in consequence, no form of actual power at all. It is merely wishful thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in the UK. No concern at all. Frankly I’m more concerned about Iran attacking the US than Europe.

How? Their bombs don't reach this far. They do reach southern Europe though.

Dunno, maybe they could crash a plane into a high rise building. Or use drones. Or something else on the ground. You think there aren’t people on the ground in the US?

+1 Our lackadaisical immigration policies have ensured that thousands of foreign terrorists already live here.

And we cancelled their student loans, so they have learned to fly aircraft for free! What a great country.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone should cancel their international travel. For safety.

Then maybe prices will go down and we can travel.

So, do it for safety.

[Anonymous]

Just cancel, Op. there will be better times

[Anonymous]

My mother comes from a country with a minuscule Jewish population. One of their favorite pastimes is mocking Jewish names and guessing whether someone is a Jew. Antisemitism is a comfortable norm in much of the world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are you talking about specifically? Airbnbs? Israel/Iran? Russia/Ukraine?

The US is going to war with Iran because Israel is too weak to fight Iran. This puts a target on all Americans.

Trump is too weak to stand up to Israel, who are hellbent on destroying the entire Middle East. Amazing how easily we have forgotten the disasters that were US wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Republicans love to get us into wars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s fun is that our effective counter-terrorism measures have been decimated by the dismantling of USAID. Our abominable foreign policy will absolutely increase terrorism.

USAID has been utterly ineffective in addressing global terror, if that was even part of its remit. Instead, it was simply a mechanism for transferring U.S. wealth and supplies to foreign countries, for better or for worse. Counterterror benefits, if any, would have been extremely abstract, unquantifiable, and frankly improbable.

Soft power is inherently abstract and unquantifiable.

And is, in consequence, no form of actual power at all. It is merely wishful thinking.

Yep, and why should we bribe foreign countries not to attack us anyway.