Terrorism is a cancer on society that has spread to all points of the globe. From the New York City skyline to the rail stations in Tokyo and Madrid, the tourist areas in Southeast Asia to the war weary cities of Iraq, terrorism has left its indelible mark. Since terrorists target the innocent and unsuspecting, travelers should know there are precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of being targeted and victimized by these groups.
While planning your trip, obtain maps of the areas you intend to visit. Free and relatively reliable websites can provide a good general view of roads and thoroughfares in most countries. It is best to print these out and keep them with you while traveling. The best source for maps will always be locally produced, but short of that, be aware of alternatives.
The first basic tenet is to not stand out in a crowd by announcing who you are and where you come from. National pride is heartening to see in light of challenging global events, but wearing brightly colored ball caps embroidered with an American flag while strolling in Middle East marketplaces is simply not smart. T-shirts, sweatshirts, bandanas, patches, and belt buckles emblazoned with the flag are perfectly fine when worn within the United States, but they become a neon sign for trouble when outside the continental U.S., and should be left home.
If traveling by air and you are a military or government member with an official passport, it is a good idea to also carry with you a civilian passport. If a terrorist should attempt to take over a plane, and assuming they are not looking to repeat the events of September 11th, 2001, a government passport will be among the criteria looked for in selecting potential victims for abuse and worse. Also, have a non-military or government I.D. with you such as a driver's license so that you won't stand out when asked to produce identification by terrorists.
Terrorists look for predictable patterns of movement in their potential targets, allowing them to set up and prepare for their actions. Having prepared yourself with area maps prior to arriving at your destination, you will be able to accomplish two things: If you are taking public transportation such as a cab, you will know if the driver is remaining on route, or if he is taking you off route. Taxi drivers can be affiliated with terrorist organizations, or could simply have been paid by a terror cell to take you to a different destination where they can act against you. By knowing your area routes, you will be able to determine whether or not your driver is acting on your instructions or someone else's. Second, by knowing the nearby roads, you can pre-plan your routes and alter them daily, particularly if you travel on foot. If terrorists cannot determine where you will be traveling, they can't pre-plan against you and may look for an easier target.
If you will be staying in a country for an extended period, try to change lodging accommodations periodically. Again, the key to success in avoiding terrorists from planning actions against you is unpredictability.
Have key phone numbers available to you in the event of an emergency, including embassy numbers and local police. If available to you, keep a cell phone on your person at all times and keep the battery charging when not in use.
While it may put a damper on your social activities, avoid events or places where large groups of your countrymen gather. Terrorists look for spectacular results from methods such as car bombs, suicide bombers, or gunfire attacks, and the denser the public gathering, the more attractive it appears to terrorists, so avoid them whenever possible.
These are just a few of the measures that can be taken, and a future, more expansive article might be forthcoming if the value is determined. Wherever you are going and whatever the reason for you being there, take careful, thoughtful measures to reduce the threat to you and the people you are traveling with. Too much human tragedy has occurred already at the hands of terrorists, and making it easier for them is inexcusable. All of the measures outlined above are relatively simple, yet highly effective, so put them to good use.
