State Department: U.S. Citizens Should Be Extra-Vigilant When Traveling Abroad Right Now

Will it be safe to visit Europe again in our lifetime?

Or ever?

Hard to say, at the rate things are going.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department issued an alert to citizens regarding the prospect of traveling in Europe, presently, saying that they should be very much on guard if they plan to venture overseas for any reason.

The advisory reads, in part:

���Credible information indicates the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL the U.S. gov't acronym for ISIS or Da'esh), al-Qaeda, and their affiliates continue to plan terrorist attacks in Europe, with a focus on the upcoming holiday season and associated events.���

���U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when attending large holiday events, visiting tourist sites, using public transportation, and frequenting places of worship, restaurants, hotels, etc.,��� the statement also says.

It is tough to imagine anyone being particularly eager about traveling overseas at the present time, and, further, difficult to ascertain if the results of the recent U.S. presidential election may heighten the risk to Americans traveling abroad, at least in the short term.

An increasing number of citizens are overtly expressing their safety concerns about traveling overseas, and warnings like that issued Monday by the State Department only serve to validate their misgivings about leaving U.S. soil.

This latest travel alert is due to expire on Feb. 20, 2017.

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr.