Just in Time for the Holidays, US Issues Worldwide Travel Alert: Here Are the Specifics

Charlene Aaron : Nov 24, 2015
CBN News

As threats loom both in the U.S. and abroad, President Barack Obama meets with French President Francois Hollande at the White House, Tuesday.

(Washington, DC)—[CBN News] As Americans make plans to travel for the holidays, the U.S. and European governments fear terrorists are making plans for more attacks. The U.S. State Department is issuing an uncommon worldwide alert "due to increased terrorist threats." And the head of Homeland Security warns there could be more attacks like those in Paris. (Screengrab via CBN News)

"We are, and we continue to be, and we have been concerned about copycat like attacks," Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson said.
The travel alert, in effect until February 24, says current information suggests that jihadists with Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups continue to plan attacks in multiple regions.

U.S. authorities said the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of ISIS return from Syria and Iraq, and other individuals not affiliated with terror groups engage in violence on their own. As seen in Paris, terrorists have targeted places where crowds gather, such as sporting events, theaters and restaurants.

"U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation," the State Department alert said. "Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid large crowds or crowded places. Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events."

As threats loom both in the U.S. and abroad, President Barack Obama meets with French President Francois Hollande at the White House,Tuesday. The pair will discuss how to ramp-up the fight against ISIS extremists. The meeting comes as a new CBS poll found that 66 percent do not think Obama has a clear plan for dealing with ISIS. Many critics even suggest the French president has been stronger in dealing with terrorism than America's Commander in Chief.

Meanwhile, the President is dealing with another serious issue: the question of whether analysts at Central Command, which oversees Pentagon operations in the Middle East, changed assessments of the campaign against ISIS to make it appear as though the U.S. and Western partners were making more progress than they actually were.

It's a serious issue that could warrant investigation and another problem for the President when it comes to the public's view of how he's handling terrorism.