Get Bin Laden: The White House Situation Room 05.01.2011

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Please note: a classified document seen in this photograph has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Photos from  The White House/Flickr


State Dept Issues Worldwide Travel Alert After Bin Laden’s Death, US Posts in Pakistan Close Until Further Notice

The State Dept issued a new Worldwide Travel Alert dated May 01, 2011 in the aftermath of Bil Bin Laden’s death:

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This Travel Alert expires August 1, 2011.

U.S. Embassy operations in affected areas will continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation. 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. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Read in full here.

On April 30, the US Embassy in Kabul restricted staff movements due to threats from extremists to increase attacks throughout Afghanistan at the beginning of May to mark the start of the fighting season.  The Embassy has curtailed the movements and activities of its personnel for April 30 and May 1, 2011. Yesterday, the US Embassy has extended a curtailment of travel for its employees throughout Afghanistan until 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4.  Ambassador Eikenberry also released an official statement.

In Pakistan, the US Embassy in Islamabad issued a warden message alerting US citizens of possible violence and announcing the closure of all diplomatic and consular posts in the country until further notice:

This Warden Notice is to alert U.S. citizens of the possibility of violent protests and demonstrations in major cities of Pakistan, specifically near U.S. Consulates General in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.  Spontaneous protests in reaction to the recent events, could erupt at any time at locations perceived as Western, including restaurants and areas where foreigners are known to congregate and may turn violent.  The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulates General in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar will be closed on Monday, May 02, 2011, except for emergency American Citizens Services.   The Embassy will issue an updated Warden Message when the Embassy and Consulates General reopen for routine business.

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence following recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.  Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations.  U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

In Kenya, outgoing US Ambassador Ranneberger said that justice has finally been served through the killing of Bin Laden by U.S. forces.  In addition to recalling the horrific attack of 9/11, he also remembers the deaths of so many Kenyans and Americans in the attack on the U.S. Embassy in 1998 by al Qaeda.

“Those victims and their families and loved ones have now received a measure of justice. I well recall the sombre commemoration I hosted for the 10th anniversary of the 1998 bombing. Thus, for me personally – and of course more importantly for the Kenyan people – the killing of Bin Laden provides a sense of closure,” he said.

The US embassies in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt and Indonesia republished the new Worldwide Travel Alert but carry no other special warden message.


Blog Index | April 2010

April had been a busy month in this corner. Another diplomatic post went from authorized to ordered departure in what seems to be never ending rounds of upheavals; three more ambassadors tendered their resignations (Kmeic, Roemer, Barzun), new nominations continued to trickle down this past month, CODEL slideshows remained as popular as OIG reports, Iraq  moved to the forgotten country of American public opinion, Afghanistan remained a sandy pit headache with no end in sight …

US Ambassador to Sweden Matthew Barzun Resigns, Announces New Obama Mission…

Officially In: President Obama’s New “A” Team


Af/Pak: Excuse me, sirs — with strategeric friends like these, why do we need enemies…


US Embassy Sweden: Must Stay Next Trip, the Tree House of Harads…


Insider Quote: The Problems of Now, the Knee Jerk Variety Response …


U.S. Ambassador to India Tim Roemer Announces Resignation…


Officially In, Tomorrow: Panetta to DOD, Petreaus to CIA, Crocker and Allen to Kabul …


WH to US Ambassador to Malta: Don’t Expect Leader of the Free World to Stop Everything to rescue You from Bad Guys…


Jailhouse Confidential: Hamsters on a Wheel in a Cage Called Afghanistan…


In Diplopundit’s Mailbox: Proper Attire for CODELs…


Crocker-Petreaus: Iraq Dream Team to be Re-united in Afghanistan 10.0


Don’t be a passhole, go vote in the AFSA Elections…


US Embassy Belgium Goes Green With Donations — from Green Companies…


US Embassy #Syria Now on Ordered Departure for Family Members and …


State/OIG on US Embassy Norway: “Ambassador is an Effective Political Appointee”…


US Mission India: CODEL McConnell. April 20, 2011


US Embassaurus: No Seismic Bracing? No Big Deal……


US Mission Afghanistan: CODEL McConnell, April 201…


US Embassy #Egypt: $30 Billion USAID Assistance to Egypt in 30 Years …


Insider Quote: you’re not going to be able to depend on Washington…


So you want to become an ambassador?


WaPo’s In The Loop Iraq Naming Contest — And the Winners Are …


State/OIG on US Embassy Denmark: “Ambassador has, in effect, become a first-line supervisor …


US Mission Afghanistan: CODEL John Boehner 2011.04…


New Word of the Day: Greater Georgebushistan


Wow! If I earn $50K a year, $4.42 of my taxes goes.to international affairs and foreign aid..


Stimson Center: Diplomacy and Foreign Aid Budget Deal Could Have Been a Lot Worse…


Quickie: Why can’t the State Department get any love…


Diplopundit is Officially a Source in Wikipedia –in Disputed Proposed Awards…


Officially In: Stuart Jones to Amman


Officially In: Jonathan D. Farrar to Managua


Officially In: Lisa Kubiske to Tegucigalpa


US Ambassador to Malta Douglas Kmiec to Resign from Post Effective August 15…


Confirmations: Gration, Gavin, Patterson, Tong, Johnson Cook, Torsella and Daulaire…


Officially In: Derek Mitchell as Special Representative for Burma…


Matt Armstrong Joins the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy…


Oh, No! The Sounding Board is in WaPo’s In the Loop…


FY2011 Budget Bill: Senate Votes 81-19, House Vote 260-167…


New FS Blog: We Meant Well, Plus a Book Coming Out This Fall…


Funding Soft Power Maybe Smart, But What About My…


US Mission Afghanistan: Amb. Eikenberry Visits PRT Farah…


Senate Appropriations Releases Highlights of FY2011…


SFRC Clears Gration, Patterson, Gavin, Shear, John…


Officially In: D. Brent Hardt to Georgetown


Officially In: Geeta Pasi to Djibouti


Officially In: Donald W. Koran to Kigali


Final CR for FY 2011 has $8.4 Billion Cuts for State…


Career Diplomacy | Life and Work in the Foreign Service…


US Mission Afghanistan: CODEL Wittman 03.26.2011


Officially In: James H. Thessin to Asuncion


Ayesh, Former US Embassy Baghdad Employee Gets 42 Months…


Ecuador: The Tit for Tat Explusion Not Over Yet –…


Projected Shutdown Cost: Over $65 Million Per Week…


US Mission Afghanistan: CODEL Marino 03.23-24.2011…


US Mission Mexico: Three Posts Warning on Possible…


Congress Govt Shutdown Averted by Cowardly Reps Who Will Do This Again, and …


Al Kamen’s In the Loop Iraq Naming Opportunities Contest…


US Embassy Malta: OIG Slams Political Ambassador for “Outside Activities”, Recommends Termination of Employees’ R&R Benefit…


State Dept Shutdown Details: Non-Emergency Consular Services to Stop…


State Dept Shutdown Details: What Overseas Operation Will Continue …


State Dept Shutdown Details: 30-40% Excepted Domestic, Significantly …


US Declares Ecuadorian Ambassador “Persona Non Grata…


Soldiers Will Continue to Fight But Stop Getting Paid, Congress Will Continue to Play Chicken and Still Get Paid…


Govt Shutdown: State Dept Making Contingency Plans…


State Dept eMED data breach: info not disclosed to others but advises employees to  …


US Mission Afghanistan: Deputy Secetary Nides’ Town Hall…


Govt Shutdown Down the Wire, AFSA Rally on April 8…


Ecuador Declares US Ambassador “Persona Non Grata”…


President Obama Appoints Ambassador Princeton N. Lyman as Special Envoy for Sudan…


US Embassy #Egypt: To Resume Visa and Consular Operations…


SFRC Hearings: Bruce Shear, Kurt Tong


Alleged Fake Amcits Had Contract Jobs at State Dept…


33 Groups Ask Senate to Vote Against Scott Gration…


SFRC Hearings: Scott Gration, Michelle Gavin


SFRC Hearings: Mara Rudman, Robert Patterson


Officially In: Kenneth J. Fairfax to Astana


Officially In: Henry S. Ensher to Algiers


Officially In: Lewis Lukens to Dakar


Officially In: Paul Wohlers to Skopje


SFRC Hearing: Suzan D. Johnson Cook


US Embassy #Syria Now on Authorized Voluntary Departure…


Blog Index | March 2011


US Embassy Côte d’Ivoire: Staff Shelters in Place …


Diplopundit Responds to Blog Take Down Notice from Tiger Boss…


Tiger Boss Sends “Polite” Blog Take Down Notice