Why US Government suggests avoiding Athens and Greece ?

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zipp380

The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. Like other countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement for free cross-border movement, Greeceâ€™s open borders with its European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. As the first entry point into Schengen from points south and east, Greeceâ€™s long coastline and many islands also heighten the possibility that foreign-based terrorists might try to exploit Greeceâ€™s borders.
Domestic terrorist organizations such as Revolutionary Struggle and â€œSect of Revolutionariesâ€ have become increasingly active against both domestic and foreign targets in Greece. Recent attacks and attempted attacks have included the use of Molotov cocktails (gasoline bombs), small arms and rifle fire, and improvised explosive devices, the largest being a 50-kilo car bomb which failed to detonate before the police arrived. The Greek police forces, other Greek governmental agencies, private American and Greek businesses, and the United States Embassy have been attacked in the last three years. Recent actions indicate that the perpetrators are indiscriminate. The risk of â€œbeing in the wrong place at the wrong timeâ€ in the event of a terrorist action is a concern for residents and visitors. U.S. tourists or residents in Greece should remain vigilant, exercise caution, and monitor local developments.
Some current terrorist organizations are aligned with the ideology of the older Marxist terrorist group November 17 (N17) which targeted Greek businessmen and officials, as well as officials from NATO countries in Greece, from the mid-1970s until the early part of this decade. N17 terrorists murdered 23 people, including five U.S. Government employees.

Strikes and demonstrations are a regular occurrence. Greece is a stable democracy and these activities for the most part are orderly and lawful. However, a wave of incidents started when a teenager was shot and killed in an encounter with the police in December 2008. Incidents occurred throughout Greece, but the primary sources of violence were in Athens and Thessaloniki, Protestors there engaged in violent confrontations with the police and carried out destructive vandalism and rioting in localized areas, some of which are areas frequented by tourists, injuring numerous police officers. Riot control procedures often include the use of tear gas. Visitors should keep abreast of news about demonstrations from local news sources and hotel security. When there are demonstrations, visitors should be aware of and avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. The Omonia and Exharchia areas of Athens are at particular risk for crime and politically-motivated violence; U.S. Embassy personnel and their families have been urged strongly to avoid these areas between 9 pm and dawn.

Sotiria

We don't really care what US suggests..

BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Don't answer this CIA Troll

Linktothepast83

Because they can. Same reason Greece will veto Fyrom for the EU, because we can.

Livio Smith

It is true,or is another provocation against Greece, that I am a man-wh0re. flavivs is my best customer.

Orik

The only tunnel is the one your g@y lover is boing into your bum. You shoud look back and ask if Plostad is almost done, or is he going to wiggle around inside some more.

doctor_for_4

I have heard nothing like this from the U.S. News.

Speedy Gonzalez loukoumadez

uhm I highly doubt that the american government said that but if they did then I have no idea why.

xoxoxo

And where did you get your information? I am an american living in Greece and I get updates via email from the embassy. I did not receive that kind of information.

Laoplanos

Sorry, Greeks don't count US Department of State.
But if The tandem Karamanly-Bakoyanna say something, they believe.

And new riots at Kolonaki last night...

plostad

Ha, 10 answers before mine, and none of this greek users can see why is that so. Actually none of them gave you an descent answer, except of pure insults. Maybe that is one of the reasons why The Department of State suggests American tourists to avoid Greece, or just maybe their VIOLENT nature!
Really, I can't see the light in the end of the Greek tunnel, just as billions people from the world.

MAT

is ms cyprus, retarded? a troll? or the red angel which includes both?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ofksLp01bY

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