Americans in Thailand warned after release of CIA report

[webfact]

Security Message for U.S. Citizens:

Release of U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s report on the CIA’s Rendition, Detention and Interrogation Program

U.S. citizens in Thailand should be aware that release of declassified versions of the executive summary, findings, and conclusions of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s report of the CIA’s Rendition, Detention and Interrogation program could prompt anti-U.S. protests and violence against U.S. interests, including private U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens should pay attention to their surroundings and take appropriate safety precautions, including avoiding demonstrations or confrontational situations.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Thailand enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Thailand. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy (http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/service.html) is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing [email protected]. The Embassy’s after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai (http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/service.html) is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at [email protected]. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

Source: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/120914securitymessage.html

-- U.S. EMBASSY BANGKOK 2014-12-10

[farangdude84]

Like most Thais even give a flying *bleep*. Still, doesn't hurt to be vigilant.

[terryp]

so are they going to finally admit the US camp where the held so called terrywrists near the Myanmar border Kanchantaburi

[rubl]

The NewYork times has an interesting article on this topic

"White House and Republicans Clash Over C.I.A. Torture Report

By MARK LANDLER and PETER BAKER

DEC. 8, 2014

WASHINGTON — With the long-awaited Senate report on the use of torture by the United States government — a detailed account that will shed an unsparing light on the Central Intelligence Agency’s darkest practices after the September 2001 terrorist attacks — set to be released Tuesday, the Obama administration and its Republican critics clashed over the wisdom of making it public, and the risk that it will set off a backlash overseas."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/us/politics/white-house-and-gop-clash-over-torture-report.html

[h90]

Like most Thais even give a flying *bleep*. Still, doesn't hurt to be vigilant.

yes, there must be a lot Thais who helped torture people in Thailand. They should rot in jail forever. But no one cares.

I don't think that any American have to worry about any Buddhist Thais, but there are Muslims as well and there are lots of "imported" Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia there could be some fanatics who don't understand that this American tourist has nothing to do with the crimes of his government.

[Fiddlesticks]

Worry about terrorist in Thailand???!!! Are you kidding? The Thai drivers are much more likely to kill you than any terrorist! Terrorists will simply have to wait their turn. The US should issue travel warnings for Thai highways.

[tomross46]

This is being brought up not to put a smoke screen over the problem in the present government, by bringing up actions carried out by the Bush government. By bring this up the leftest press goes after Bush and does not report on IRS criminal activities, NSA spying on Americans, DOJ raciest activities, EPA breaking the law, thousands of troops on the ground in Iraq, questionable constitutionality of the ACA, civil right advisers to the W/H which are delinquent on taxes, and many other problem.

None of the above affects Thailand. The CIA torture after 911, will indicate that possibility the Thaksin government, working with the CIA, by providing facilities at a military base in Rayong to carry out the torture.

[phuketandsee]

Ironic given at least one of the CIA black sites was here.

[winstonc]

just say your canadian end of..everyone likes them....or wear a t-shirt in thai saying your a mute...

[NeverSure]

Maybe the Thais should worry. There have been far more terrorist killings of Thais in Thailand since 9/11 than there have been of Americans in America.

That is of course because the Thais run Gitmo Kill terrorists all over the world Torture terrorists regularly in Bangkok Butt into everyone elses' business the world over Terrorists are terrorists and do what terrorists do.

Edited December 10, 2014 by NeverSure

[NeverSure]

The NewYork times has an interesting article on this topic

"White House and Republicans Clash Over C.I.A. Torture Report

By MARK LANDLER and PETER BAKER

DEC. 8, 2014

WASHINGTON — With the long-awaited Senate report on the use of torture by the United States government — a detailed account that will shed an unsparing light on the Central Intelligence Agency’s darkest practices after the September 2001 terrorist attacks — set to be released Tuesday, the Obama administration and its Republican critics clashed over the wisdom of making it public, and the risk that it will set off a backlash overseas."

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/us/politics/white-house-and-gop-clash-over-torture-report.html

Yes, leave it to our wonderful liberal Democrats to scatter information that should be in-house (even if true) all over the world and put Americans in danger.

Those cobras would kill their own mothers to score a political point.

[Jingthing]

Time to dust off the trusty old Maple Leaf!

[worgeordie]

Once again the American Govt. tries to strike fear into the minds

of its citizens,at home and abroad,fear of the unknown is a strong

controlling influence.leaving the Govt.to do just about anything it

wants,without complaint.

regards Worgeordie

[NeverSure]

Once again the American Govt. tries to strike fear into the minds

of its citizens,at home and abroad,fear of the unknown is a strong

controlling influence.leaving the Govt.to do just about anything it

wants,without complaint.

regards Worgeordie

With all due respect, this isn't the American Government per se. This is the left wing nutcase Democrats who just got their azzes handed to them in the election about a month ago.

This is to score political points, done by one side in an action which should be condemned by all.

[BeforeTigers]

Uh oh. Someone said the A-word.

Open the flood gates.

[GAS]

This is being brought up not to put a smoke screen over the problem in the present government, by bringing up actions carried out by the Bush government. By bring this up the leftest press goes after Bush and does not report on IRS criminal activities, NSA spying on Americans, DOJ raciest activities, EPA breaking the law, thousands of troops on the ground in Iraq, questionable constitutionality of the ACA, civil right advisers to the W/H which are delinquent on taxes, and many other problem.

None of the above affects Thailand. The CIA torture after 911, will indicate that possibility the Thaksin government, working with the CIA, by providing facilities at a military base in Rayong to carry out the torture.

Great post and all true!

I love how the American regime wants us to register with them so they can track us even more easily....no way, why do you think half of us are overseas, we had to get free of Uncle Sams plantation!!

Edited December 10, 2014 by GAS

[BeforeTigers]

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Once again the American Govt. tries to strike fear into the minds

of its citizens,at home and abroad,fear of the unknown is a strong

controlling influence.leaving the Govt.to do just about anything it

wants,without complaint.

regards Worgeordie

With all due respect, this isn't the American Government per se. This is the left wing nutcase Democrats who just got their azzes handed to them in the election about a month ago.

This is to score political points, done by one side in an action which should be condemned by all.

This $41 million Congressional report was initiated in 2012, finished last April and only updated and released now.

But, with all due respect, don't let facts slow ya down.

Edited December 10, 2014 by BeforeTigers

[kingstonkid]

just say your canadian end of..everyone likes them....or wear a t-shirt in thai saying your a mute...

Problem with that is that usually they think Canadians are Americans.

Are we back to selling canadian flags for Americans to wear

[lust]

just say your canadian end of..everyone likes them....or wear a t-shirt in thai saying your a mute...

That would have worked 10 years ago. Canada is not the peace loving nation it once was.

[jamhar]

Time to dust off the trusty old Maple Leaf!

canada-flag-backpack.png

Eh?

[Jingthing]

just say your canadian end of..everyone likes them....or wear a t-shirt in thai saying your a mute...

That would have worked 10 years ago. Canada is not the peace loving nation it once was.

You expect Americans to keep up with Canadian politics? That's harsh.

[garyinhuahin]

Yo no hablo ingles.

[yellowboat]

so are they going to finally admit the US camp where the held so called terrywrists near the Myanmar border Kanchantaburi

Heard there was another detention center at Dong Muang Airport. Wonder if that will come out in the report.

[Jingthing]

Yo no hablo ingles.

That's kind of funny.

I was scoping out some hard core Arabic restaurants a few weeks ago and I was aggressively approached with the question: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I really didn't know what to say.

Should I have called my embassy for guidance?

[kamahele]

Actually the US government has warned Americans everywhere, not just in Thailand. Ashamed that our government stooped to such lows as torture, but also proud that we as a people are able to admit it our flaws so we can move forward. Don't find that in many other countries.

[Benmart]

Worry about terrorist in Thailand???!!! Are you kidding? The Thai drivers are much more likely to kill you than any terrorist! Terrorists will simply have to wait their turn. The US should issue travel warnings for Thai highways.

The US State Department does have safety advisories about the Thai highways and driving dangers. Go to their website to read it.

[sgtsabai]

Funny, I never registered with the US Embassy, but they know right where I live. Kabuki theater of fear continues. The whole world already knew most of what is in the summary. I doubt the entire report will every see the light of day unless a brave Senator enters it into the Congressional Record, I'm still hoping he does. This should have come out long ago and the perpetrators of war crimes sent where they belong, GitMo. Perhaps if Obama had done the right thing and Holder had prosecuted war criminals, the US wouldn't have to worry about blowback for the crimes committed in our name. Y, yo no hablo ingles, and apparently some of our readers no comprende the truth or right from wrong.

[kleelof]

Was this warning sent to other countries too or just Thailand? Thailand would seem like a strange choice to be the only or one of just a few countries to get such a warning.

[Jingthing]

Actually I'm kind of seriously asking the question ... if you are aggressively approached to identify your nationality by someone who appears to have a nationality probably hostile to the USA, what do you do?

[sgtsabai]

I have the response to that, but won't post.