Tourism and Terrorism

[+ Lucky]

The front page of today's New york Times has a pic of NYPD officers guarding the TKTS booth in Times Square with high-powered rifles. This is the new poster for tourism of New York City and I think the economy here is heading for a plunge. Meanwhile, steps away at the Gaiety, dancers are concerned about a police crackdown on men who have sex in exchange for money.

The media today states that we must have three days supply of food and water, thick plastic and duct tape to cover our windows, batteries and radios. We are warned that in the first 24-48 hours after an attack that we are on our own as the olice will not likely be able to enforce order. They will be too busy arrsting prostitutes!

[Cooper]

I can speak from 1st hand experience about the accuracy of that news picture. The police/military presence in NYC is quite visible, esp. in mid-town Manhattan. I would be interested in hearing from board members living in other major US cities, are you noticing the same? As for the crack down on illegal immigrants in NYC doing escort work, perhaps this alert can be seen as their silver lining.

[Guest happyguy]

I, too, have been preoccupied with the current threats.

Each year, I visit Miami Beach (at mid-beach) several times

a year for about a week or more each time. It is a truly

wonderful vacation. Last week on Aaron Brown's 10:00PM EST

show, a high ranking Miami police official said they were

among the prime targets, so the chatter goes. This, due to

the high Jewish population and Jewish ownership of hotels

there. Does anyone either in South Florida or "in the know"

have any advice. I intend to go, but will certainly take

any of your thoughts into consideration.

Thanks!

happyguy

[Guest pshaw]

Most of us here in DC are a bit edgy - we think that something bad PROBABLY won't happen, but there's alot of gallows humor. All this nattering about plastic sheeting and duct tape being your best defense is not all that reassuring. I recall an article in the WashPost soon after Sept. 11 that posited what would happen if a dirty bomb was set off in DC - the theoretical detonation point was about 75 yards from my office. I was not amused. This spring I anticipate a noticeable drop off in cherry blossom visitors and high school class trips, so it's not all bad. Nothing will stop the Japanese tourists, though. ;-) They are a braver, hardier breed, god love 'em.

[+ glutes]

There is no increased activity here in the Bay Area, other than trucks being inspected on the two bridges leading INTO San Francisco.

Personally I don't think the Bay Area is such a target because of all the protests of the upcoming war. Why piss-off, or terrorize, the peaceniks and forward thinkers here!

[+ bigjoey]

last month i was in hong kong and security was tight and extra guards were noticable at the jewish owned Peninsula Hotel. i was in germany last week and i have not seen such heavy security since the early 70's with the various leftist fringe terrorist gangs on the loose. germany probabally hopes they will escape the rath of the islamic fundamentalists with the government's political stand; however, the large american military presense makes a great target so that is probabally the reason for the extra security.

 

the islamic terrorists will murder again; it's just a matter of time. no one is safe. when god is on your side, you can do no wrong so you just forge ahead and murder in allah's name. they have the advantage of picking the target and time so the advantage is theirs.

[Guest NakedTony]

>There is no increased activity here in the Bay Area, other than trucks being inspected on the two bridges leading INTO San Francisco.

 

I was told that they've increased shore and boat patrols in the harbor area around Oakland. There are apparently concerns about the commerical freighters and the "cargo" they might be carrying.

 

In addition, there is increased activity due to the construction of the new SF-Oakland Bay Bridge. A friend who is working on that job said they've been subjected to additional background checks this week. Said they actually suspended work for a couple of days until they were cleared to resume.

[Luv2play]

I remember when the Gulf War started I was doing a lot of overseas business travel and I had no choice but to continue with my business. The only airline I would fly the Atlantic on was Swissair (it had the best reputation for security at the time) and even it did not have very full flights. When I got to my hotel in Geneva only 10 per cent of the rooms were taken. It turned out to be one of the best trips I ever had in 25 years of travel, the service was GREAT!. But following 9/11, if we do have another war, it may not be the same way this time. However, given my irrepressible sense of humour, when I heard about the duct tape, all I could think of was the Duct Tape Council on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor on National Public Radio. Who would have thought how right he was when he says all you really need is duct tape:7

[Luv2play]

The Miami police may be on heightened alert but a couple of days ago four armed militia types from Cuba, wearing their uniforms and carrying high powered arms, arrived in Key West by boat without any interference by anyone. They gave themselves up after walking the downtown streets at 4 in the morning! Jeb Bush says he's not very pleased with the Feds on this onex( :o :o :o

[IM_Moore]

just what we need fucking war on our own streets, i didn't see the pic yet iut is fucking sick as you described it.

[Guest nhl-nbaguy]

No sign of increased risks in Paris. The garbage cans are still on the streets and in the subways (unlike at some points in the past.) Proof again that if you get your foreign policy right, you won't have to live in a military camp. Each to his owm, I guess.

[+ Charlie]

I just returned from Australia, a prime target for terrorists due to their support of Bush's policies--they have already committed troops to the Gulf. There were a lot of American military from the USS Abraham Lincoln wandering the streets of Perth while I was there, but no signs of increased security anywhere in the country except the major airports.

[Guest RetrdEscrt]

Not seen anything overly visible in LA mind you saying that i havent been looking it just a case of get on with daily life and not let it worry you too much.

Next week i am flying to Martha's Vineyard so if there is another attack of any kind especially on the East Coast i should be far enough away---hopefully

 

I dont understand why the government is risking a panic buying spree with the stock-up-on-water etc etc unless the cynical fag in me is saying thats it is another way to stimulate the economy.

[VaHawk]

Well we had our first "unfounded" scare in DC today - nothing but the cops closing down some of the major thruways causing 30 mile backups during rush hour! FUN, FUN, FUN, till Daddy takes the keys away! Of course, there was a report on the local news about all the plastic sheets and tape being bought out at the local hardware stores, as if any of that is going to save you? Like whatever happens, will happen!

 

I kind of feel, that if there is another terrorist attack in the USA, it won't be here in DC or NYC but someplace like Chicago, SF, or LA. I also feel it will be some kind of chemical or biological attack on the basics of American life, such as the water supply or public transportation, that will induce a more basic, psychologic, wide spread panic than the direct, blunt attacks on the WTC towers or the Pentagon. x(

[Guest nhl-nbaguy]

I would bet the next target will be cultural, Las Vegas or Disney. They have hit the military (pentagon ans boats), finance (WTC), government (embassies and attempt on the Capitol. So my bet is that the next targt will be a cultural one, and I doubt very much it will be in NYC.

[Bilbo]

Here in Houston, we are a bit worried about all of our petrochemical plants. The only security stepup I have heard about is increased harbor patrols. I haven't seen anything, really, but all of that is miles away from my haunts or from anything you as a tourist are actually liable to want to see. It should be perfectly safe for all of you to come on down here.