The Coming War with Syria?

Could this Department of State Travel warning signal a possible skirmish in the works in Syria?

Syria Travel Warning

November 13, 2006

This Travel Warning is being issued to alert U.S. citizens to the fact that non-emergency employees and family members have been authorized to return to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, but the Department continues to urge U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Syria. This Travel Warning also alerts U.S. citizens to the ongoing safety and security concerns in Syria. It supersedes the Travel Warning issued on September 14, 2006.

On September 12, the U.S. Embassy in Damascus was attacked by assailants using improvised explosives, gunfire, and two vehicles laden with explosives. However, the Embassy perimeter was not breached. This attack underscores the presence of terrorist groups in Syria that have the ability and intent to target American interests. The Embassy is working with the Syrian authorities to address these threats and the security issues raised by the attack on the Embassy.

U.S. citizens who remain in or travel to Syria despite this Travel Warning are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Syria. Americans in Syria should exercise caution and take prudent measures to maintain their security. These measures include being aware of their surroundings, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel, and ensuring travel documents are current.

U.S. consular personnel remain available to provide emergency information and services to American citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria, is located at 2, Al-Mansour St., Abu Roumaneh. The Embassy telephone number is (963) (11) 333-1342, fax (963) (11) 331-9678, e-mail:

acsdamascus@state.gov. American citizens may register with the Embassy online by visiting

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. Additional information may be found on the Embassy website at

http://usembassy.state.gov/damascus.

Updated information on travel and security in Syria may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States or, from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. Additional details can be found in the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Syria, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement which are available on the Department's Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

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RFID to help keep Hendrix as pure as can be

RFID Ltd says its Authentichip programme has now been launched, using RFID technology to combat the high levels of piracy and counterfeiting that exist in the multi-billion dollar memorabilia industry. Specifically, Jimi Hendrix memorabilia to be authenticated with Authentichips include "The Hendrix guitar strap" (immortalised at the 1969 Newport Pop Festival) and the "Wah-Wah pedal". According to RFID Ltd's president, Nicholas Chavez, "We can apply RFID tags to document historic artefacts, memorabilia and fine art. After embedding an Authentichip, the artefact carries within it the complete history of the item, including historic value and ownership. For example, the Authentichip can be used by the musicians' estates and individual collectors to counter the flood of fake items in the market. According to assistant US Attorney Phillip Halpern, "What matters is that as much as 90% of the memorabilia on the market may be forged... The bottom line is that you need to know the history of the item."