My husband and I are booked on a trip to Italy Nov. 1st. He is an active duty military physician and we are uncertain of the war status. His chance of deployment is very low, but we are afraid of not being able to get back to the US if the war is escalating. I have read the message boards and agree that people should not be afraid to travel. But, has anyone stopped to think if we have our soldiers in a war is it the right time to be on vacation?? Someone is risking their life for our way of life. <BR>Opinions on our travel --please.

Susan, these are the hard questions we're all asking ourselves these days. For me, it's a question of knowing what you can change and what you cannot, and then proceeding with the life you want to live within those parameters. For me--and granted, as a single and childless woman I have fewer fears, though also considerably less solace--it is a simple equation. I--we all--may be headed toward unspeakable danger. And there's not a damned thing I can do about that. But if I live consumed by fear for five days, weeks, months, years, or even decades before the worst happens, I will have stolen precious time from myself, and it will happen anyway. <BR> <BR>When he was diagnosed with cancer and decided to quit the Senate, Paul Tsongas explained his decision by saying something to the effect that no one, on his deathbed, had ever regretted not having spent more time at the office. Whenever I die, however I die, I don't want my final thoughts to be regrets about what I was too afraid to do and be while I was alive and had the chance. <BR> <BR>Peace be with us.

If there's really a chance he'll be called up, won't the military tell him not to leave the country or something? If it doesn't seem right to you, don't go. It's just my opinion, but I think that all heck would have to break loose before people couldn't get back to the states from Europe. That would mean that no or not many flights were going back and forth. I just don't think that's very likely. Especially since it sounds like Italy (and who knows which other European countries) don't want to provide military troops.

Only you know what is right for your situation, but remember that someone is ALWAYS risking their life for our way of life -- in many parts of the world. If we don't make use of the freedoms we have, then what's the use of having them??

Susan, this is such a personal decision to have to make. Here in UK the Prime Minister is saying that this is a war against terrorism and it seems unlikely that ground troops are going to invade Afghanistan in the short term. I honestly belive that President Bush and the allies will be seeking to prosecute this battle by stealth and using intelligence rather than barging in. The winter is fast approaching and it would not be feasible to commit large numbers of ground troops into such an inhospitable area as Afghanistan. We Brits are very involved in this effort and we expect the European partners also to be involved. I do not think it is fair to say that the Italians and others will not do their bit. <BR>Here we will go on with our lives praying and hoping that there will not be all out war. <BR>My husband and I are off to Brittany using Eurostar this weekend. Maybe I would feel differently if I had to fly to Europe. We will be on a cruise over christmas visiting US and flying home from NY. We will not cancel that trip unless forced to do so. <BR>You are right to say that the allied forces risk their lives to preserve our way of life. We all need to get on with that life and not to allow the forces of evil to stop us.I do hope you will not think I am insensitive. I am old enough to have lived in UK through WW2 and am aware of the evils that war inflicts.

I pray that your husband has an understanding commander and that all leaves do not get cancelled when it is time for you to go. As a former Air Force family practice physician, I used to think that if I were not working, my whole clinic would sink without me. Then, one day when my committment was met, I left the military and my clinic. To my dissapointment, they survived fine without me. <BR> In the military, even in peacetime, there are soldiers injured and dying in training accidents, crashes, etc. to maintime preparedness for times like this. There is nothing wrong with living and enjoying life while you can. For all we know this could be a long and drawn out affair. Staying in a healthy state of mind now will help your husband should he be taxed with difficult duties in the future.

_*applause*_

You also need to remember that there may never be an end to this "war." The government has already said it will be a long process. Do we put our lives on hold forever? Those going to fight terrorists overseas and those fighting them here are doing it to protect our citizens' lives and freedoms. Travel is one of those freedoms, although a very minor one to many. Another thing to consider is that Bush and others are saying it may take quite some time to organize any kind of military action. They have to locate their elusive targets, organize a coalition of allies, and put the military forces in place. More and more, it looks like this does mean significant fighting in Afghanistan, and I can't believe our military will undertake that operation without major preparation. It is beginning to look more and more like my mid-October Italy trip will go forward, but we don't really know what will happen. For all I know, our military could be putting special forces and aircraft carriers in place right now for a well-targeted strike this weekend. We realize we won't be able to make a definitive decision until the day of the trip. I am already drawing up alternative plans for a driving trip to use my vacation time (can't carry it over). My wife is a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service. She has not been called up (others have), and because of her specialty she likely wouldn't be, but she does have to provide contact information just in case.

Of course you should go...you'd be a fool not to. The worst thing that will probably happen to you is that you won't be able to find your shoe size at Gucci in Rome. JG