On a typical hot afternoon in early September you are casually sitting at the computer, browsing through various internet websites, reading stories, scanning the various entertainment, sports and generally newsy things that are going on around the world. There is not much exciting that catches your eye.
But then on a major news site you come across an article titled "U.S. Warns of Possible Terrorist Attack in Japan" and you stop to read it carefully, wondering if and how this pertains to you, currently living in Okinawa, Japan.

What would you do?

The following is the first portion of the article:

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U.S. Warns of Possible Terrorist Attack in Japan

Sept. 7 --
The U.S. embassy in Tokyo today warned Americans living in Japan to be on a heightened state of alert for possible terrorist attacks.

In a one-sentence statement released today, the embassy said it had received unconfirmed information of "terrorist actions" against U.S. military facilities or against establishments frequented by U.S. military personnel.

There are about 48,000 American military personnel in Japan, nearly half of whom are stationed in Okinawa, a subtropical island 1,000 miles south of Tokyo.

According to the Japanese Justice Ministry, there are about 40,000 U.S. civilians registered as residents in Japan.

‘Credible’ Threat

The warning was not part of any global alert, a U.S. embassy spokesman told Reuters today.

The Warden System message was delivered as part of a policy that was established after the 1988 bombing of a Pan American Airways 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, said embassy spokesman Patrick Linehan.

Although embassy sources refused to divulge any details about when the warnings were expected to be lifted, an embassy source told the Associated Press the threat was "credible."

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Would you know what this article might be referring to, these possible "terrorist actions"? Would you be concerned?

Would you contact your family and friends here in Okinawa and elsewhere, asking them if they had heard anything about this threat?

Would you wonder if the U.S. military and U.S. State Department personnel in Okinawa would be providing you appropriate guidance on responding to this threat?

Who would you contact to get further information?

Would you re-read that article? Do you look for additional related information on other news websites?

Would you just pass it off as another strange news story, not credible, not really of concern to you?

What would you do?

Post your thoughts and comments here.
Later I will add more information related to this 'situation'. 

Is this a real article? Or hypothetical situation? 

Post it on Facebook so everyone else would panic, too. 

Would you know what this article might be referring to, these possible "terrorist actions"? Would you be concerned?

Only time I would be concerned is if my husband warned me.

Would you contact your family and friends here in Okinawa and elsewhere, asking them if they had heard anything about this threat?

No. No need to worry them.

Would you wonder if the U.S. military and U.S. State Department personnel in Okinawa would be providing you appropriate guidance on responding to this threat?

I am sure they're doing the best that can.

Who would you contact to get further information?

I would ask my husband.

Would you re-read that article? Do you look for additional related information on other news websites?

Most likely.

Would you just pass it off as another strange news story, not credible, not really of concern to you?

If I could not get it from a reliable source, yes.


We were in Bravo at our base. However, I thought it was because of the shootings. I never even asked why. I just go on about my everyday business. There is nothing I can physically do about it. Whatever happens, happens. 

And don't shoot me for posting it from Fox, but

Linky 

I just go on about my everyday business.

Yeah. All you can do is pay attention to your surroundings. 

I am going to hang out in a Japanese neighborhood all day. 

Yeah. All you can do is pay attention to your surroundings.

which everyone should do anyway. maybe i'm suspicious.. but i think my questionable friends might have noticed that i always know who is around me for the most part. 

I might run around in circles screaming in a panicked voice. After coffee maybe. If I'm feeling energetic. 

Sunday evening, almost 10pm.

Some people may wonder if this is a real news article?
If you copy and the paste the title I provided into an internet search service such as Google (www.google.com) the very first search result provides the answer.

If you are not sure how to use google or internet search services then you can just click on this blue font for an easy clicky linky thing that will open up the exact news article.
You can then read it for yourself on the ABC News website. 

NICE.. let's bring up all that crap instead of remembering what happened in our history. because an alleged rape and a rape that was already punished are pertinant to the attacks in new york. 

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