Less than 24 hours after White House Press Secretary Jay Carney talked in circles about the threat al Qaeda poses to the United States, the State Department has ordered the evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.
Nineteen U.S. embassies remain closed until the end of the week.Today, the Department of State ordered a reduction in the number of emergency U.S. Government personnel in Yemen. As we have said, we are concerned about a threat stream indicating the potential for terrorist attacks against U.S. persons or facilities overseas, especially emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. As such, the Department is taking appropriate steps to protect our employees, including local employees and visitors to our facilities.
U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen despite the Travel Warning in effect should limit nonessential travel within the country, be aware of their surroundings whether in their residences or moving about, make their own contingency emergency plans, enroll their presence in Yemen through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and provide their current contact information and next-of-kin or emergency contact information.
UPDATE: Ed Morrissey points out there have been 11 jail breaks of 1000 al Qaeda members in just 25 days. Those guys are now on the loose.