IRAQ TRAVEL WARNING UPDATE

Last December, I posted excerpts from the State Dept.'s travel advisory for Iraq. I looked today and not much has changed:

This information is current as of today, Wed Sep 05 16:20:10 2007.

IRAQ
July 23, 2007
This Travel Warning updates the current security situation and reiterates the dangers of the use of civilian aircraft and road travel within Iraq. This supersedes the Travel Warning of August 28, 2006.

The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Iraq, which remains very dangerous.

There are daily attacks against Multinational Forces - Iraq (MNF-I) and Iraqi Security Forces throughout the country.

Civilian and military aircraft arriving at and departing from Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) for other major cities in Iraq have been subjected to small arms and missiles. Civilian aircraft generally lack defense systems capable of defeating man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). As a result of a security incident at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), the U.S. Embassy has prohibited all U.S. government employees from departing BIAP on commercial airlines until further notice.

All vehicular travel in Iraq is extremely dangerous. ... Attacks occur throughout the day, but travel at night is exceptionally dangerous.

Travel in or through Ramadi and Fallujah; in and between al-Hillah, al-Basrah, Kirkuk, Baqubah (Diyala Province), and Baghdad; between the International Zone and Baghdad International Airport; and from Baghdad to Mosul is particularly dangerous.

Overland travel should be undertaken only when absolutely necessary and with the appropriate security.