US Embassies Close Amid the Most Serious Terror Threat In Years

In what Senator Saxby Chambliss called “an awful lot of chatter,” al Qaeda’s most recent threats have been serious enough to force the US to close 22 embassies and consulates in the Middle East over the weekend. About 19 of those locations will remain closed through August 10 in an apparent effort to avoid another Benghazi. Officials say that that chatter is similar to the terrorist communications seen on 9/11, which prompted the closings and worldwide travel alert warning Americans abroad of a potential attack. Intelligence officers place the potential attack as “occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula,” where Muslims are wrapping up Ramadan later this week. [Reuters]