And lots of Jewish families did survive by moving from Germany to numerous other difficult locations like Nairobi, Shanghai, etc. That's a poor example.

I personally find Spygirl's comments mature, enlightening and well considered. I also agree too many Americans think that bravado will prevent them from being hurt. I don't like "bending to terrorists" either, but I also consider my options carefully. So, to answer the original question, I just backed out of a Nile cruise and am going to Italy instead :-)

I think Spygirl's reply was well-considered and spot-on (if you will).

Spygirl, nobody here is airily putting themselves in harm's way on vacation, and nobody here is cheerily dismissing any danger to them in a foreign country.

elle7 wants a vacation in Italy. That is perfectly reasonable.

This forum is for vacation advice, not politics. If we tell elle7 to avoid vacationing anyplace where there are terrororist alerts, there will be few places left for her to choose from.

Jeez, WillT! Lighten UP, willya?

My post was just pondering on the irony of a one-in-a-million outcome, and not intended to suggest that going somewhere else was a bad idea.

I can't cite a source for this, but here goes: one of the survivors of 9/11 went back to London to be safe. He was killed at King's X on 7/7.

"I can't cite a source for this, but here goes: one of the survivors of 9/11 went back to London to be safe. He was killed at King's X on 7/7."

Actually I think that that is one of those rumours that can so easily be started. There might be some truth in it, but to be involved (rather than just present at the same time in the same city) in both defies reasonable odds.

The recent attack in Egypt involved a couple of Britons who'd left London for an holiday to escape the tense atmosphere; fortunately they were not harmed.

My only beef with Spygirl's info is that she quotes chapter an verse of what the head of the Whatever Department -- be it the FBI, CIA, State Department -- and cites it as gospel truth, while degrading other countries' efforts to stop terrorism, as if we Americans have some sort of lock on how to do it. Clearly, we do not.

Melissa is right -- nobody here is airily putting themselves in harm's way on vacation, and nobody here is cheerily dismissing any danger to them in a foreign country.

I do think people have to measure their tolerance for danger, and be aware of where they're going and what the risks are, and weigh them against their own interest in self-preservation and whether they really think the risk level is high enough to warrant cancelling a trip to Italy or staying in their home in Duluth. I choose to travel.

It IS true, whether it upsets Spygirl or not -- that the odds of getting killed in more routine chores like driving are better than getting killed by a terrorist. For most of us the chances of either are miniscule, for those who die in an attack or car accident, it's 100%, that's life, and that's statistics.

I remember not too many years ago thinking that the IRA would NEVER solve its problems in the Irish conflict. Today, we have the news that the IRA plans to voluntarily disarm themselves in a bid for peace. While it doesn't mean there will never be conflict in Ireland again, it gives me hope that this too shall pass.

Jules