This alert has to be issued because idiot Western governments keep paying the ransoms. If you keep buying something, you will get more of it. The demand will be met by an increased supply: as long as non-Muslims keep paying ransoms, they will get more kidnappings. Europe actually finances al Qaeda through ransom payments. “Americans abroad at ‘high risk’ of ISIS kidnappings, terrorist attacks, U.S. warns,” by Meg Wagner, New York Daily News, October 11, 2014:
U.S. citizens are prime targets for terrorists’ kidnappings, the government warned.
The U.S. State Department urged Americans to be on high alert when they’re traveling abroad, fearing ISIS and other extremist groups have “increased attempts to finance their operations through kidnapping for ransom.”
“Terrorist groups have stepped up their rhetoric calling for additional attacks or kidnapping attempts on westerners,” the department said in a Friday statement.
The most vulnerable international travelers are those who belong to governments with a history of paying ransoms to terrorist groups, the State Department explained. Some Western countries — such as France and Germany — have paid millions to have their hostages freed.
While the U.S. has a long standing policy of refusing to submit to payoff requests, the State Department still warned that Americans aboard are at risk of terrorist’ violence.
ISIS is especially eager to attack the U.S. and its citizens for the government’s aggressive airstrike campaign against fighters in Syria and Iraq, the State Department said. © STRINGER Iraq / Reuters/REUTERS ISIS is especially eager to attack the U.S. and its citizens for the government’s aggressive airstrike campaign against fighters in Syria and Iraq, the State Department said.ISIS and other terrorists groups are especially vengeful against the U.S. and its citizens for the government’s aggressive airstrike campaign against fighters in Syria and Iraq.
It’s not clear how many Americans ISIS is holding hostage, but the fighters have executed two kidnapped journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as retaliation for the U.S. intervention in the Middle East. The group has threated to kill Peter Kassig, a U.S. soldier-turned-humanitarian aid worker, next if the government does not end its military campaign against the fighters.
Extremists are especially likely to target overseas areas where large numbers of travelers gather. Kidnappings and attacks might take place at sporting events, in hotels and other tourist destinations, the State Department said.
While terrorists groups exist across the world, the Middle East remains the most dangerous area, the government warned.
FILE Getty Images provides access to this publicly distributed image for editorial purposes and is not the copyright owner. Additional permissions may be required and are the sole responsibility of the end user. ISIS beheaded Steven Sotloff (center) earlier this year after he was kidnapped while working as a reporter in Syria.“No part of Syria should be considered immune from violence,” the statement read. “U.S. citizens in Iraq remain at high risk for kidnapping and terrorist violence.”
Federal officials are worried about U.S. travelers in Africa and Asia, too.
Boko Haram, the Nigerian extremist group that kidnapped 200 schoolgirls earlier this year, has threatened U.S. missionaries in the country’s north. Al Qaeda groups have an especially strong hold in North Africa, the department said.
Other terrorists operate in India, the Philippines and Malaysia.
The U.S. urged travelers to stay in a “heightened state of alert” and warned that its worldwide facilities may be forced to close during times of high threats.