[url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/us-worldwide-travel-alert_n_3695836.html]Article[/url] [quote]The United States issued a global travel alert Friday, citing an al-Qaida threat that also caused the State Department to close 21 embassies and consulates this weekend in the Muslim world. The State Department warned American citizens of the potential for terrorism particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, with a possible attack occurring or coming from the Arabian Peninsula. "Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the statement said. It urged American travelers to take extra precautions when traveling overseas and suggested they sign up for State Department alerts and register with U.S. consulates in the countries they are visiting.[/quote] I wonder if the State department is using intelligence that they got from the NSA's collection of phone records and online activity. I also wonder if the intelligence would have been as easy to get without collecting all of our records, if that is the method that they use. Hopefully, all of our embassies are safe, and the terrorists are the stupid kind who end up only blowing up themselves.