Summer is here again, and many of us are planning trips abroad. While there is increased risk, there are steps that we can take to keep ourselves and our families safe when we travel. Here are a few that I recommend…
Do not Advertise your Nationality
If you are traveling abroad, or even in your own country, advertising that you are from out of town increases your chances of being a victim of crime or terrorism. Opportunistic criminals and terrorists look for foreigners, especially Americans, whom they perceive as wealthy. Leave the corporate logos, Blackberries, iPods, and expensive jewelry at home or at the hotel. If you typically wear shorts, brightly colored shirts, sandals and the like when you travel you will stand out. We recommend something like business casual attire, especially in cities. You look less like a tourist and it’s easier to blend into a crowd if you are dressed a bit more conservatively.
Trust your Instincts
Your instincts are often right. If a situation does not feel right then leave. If you don’t feel safe in a hotel, then move. If a taxi looks suspicious, wait for another. It is better to feel a bit silly and paranoid than to be the victim of crime or terrorism, or as the old adage goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Locate Your Country’s Embassy or Consulate
No matter how brief your stay in a foreign country, always locate your country’s embassy or consulate and let them know that you are there. You can even pre-register before you leave. They can be an enormous help in the event of an emergency.
Copy Important Documents
You should leave copies of your passport, visa, driver’s license, and health insurance, bank and credit cards in a hotel safe as well as with a friend or family member back home. Better yet, scan copies into an emailable format. Should you become the victim of theft or kidnapping, this could prove to be invaluable.
Rent or Buy a Cell Phone with International Roaming
Rent or buy a cell phone with international roaming that will function at your destination. Most U. S. mobile phone providers offer a global rental service.
Never Take the First Taxi in Line in Developing/Volatile Countries
If a group is out to kidnap you, they may have a taxi waiting outside your hotel for your departure or a compatriot in the hotel who will signal them when you are about to leave. For this reason it is better to hail a taxi on the street or have your hotel recommend a reputable taxi or limousine service. Also beware of unmarked taxis.
Don’t Exchange Currency at the Airport
Criminals often target foreign visitors exchanging large sums at airport banks and foreign exchange kiosks.
The discovery last night of an undetonated bomb in an abandoned car parked in a busy London nightclub and theater district is a grim reminder that the threats that we all face from terrorism are not going away. Hatred for Western governments and way of life is at an all time high and fringe groups are often encouraged by the panic that even an unsuccessful attempt like this can cause.
While there is nowhere that you can go to keep yourself completely safe from this threat, there are things that you can do to help. Report abandoned packages or bags to the authorities immediately. If you notice something unusual, like in this case where people saw smoke coming from the car, report it and get away from the area. If you notice unusual behavior in a person in a public place, such as increased agitation or wearing bulky garments that are inappropriate for the weather and look to be concealing something, don’t be afraid to report it. Law enforcement agencies can’t be everywhere at once, so there is only so much they can do to protect us. We must act as their eyes and ears and realize that we must assume some responsibility and be active participants in increasing the safety and security of ourselves and our neighbors
Download Max Chapter 3 (right click, save as)
The hit. Sam and Joe are waiting in a car parked on Edgware Road in West London. Their target is about to emerge from a meal inside a Lebanese restaurant. This is the last hit on their list. When it is over, they can go home to their families….
Download the audio of Max Chapter 2 (right click, save as)
Sam is in France to visit the mysterious Papa who trades in information - and lives. There is one name left on Sam’s hit-list - one more hit and then he can rest, for he is weary of the assassination business.