Since our ambassador to
Libya was killed on 9/11, tensions all around our region have been high,
especially in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia, with America being target #1. I was still in Virginia when the trouble
started and wondered whether I would be able to get back, which I did on
9/14. Since then I have not left the
apartment. We were confined to our
quarters over the weekend; and though we can go out now, and the embassy is
open, no one is supposed to go anywhere alone for the time being. In fact, the embassy has set up shuttle vans
to take employees to and from work each day.
In our case, we are only a couple of blocks; and the walk takes 8
minutes. Nevertheless, we can't walk the streets alone. So for me, I am still confined
to the apartment since there is no one else here during the day. Fortunately for me, it’s nice here with my
wonderful rooftop terrace, sea breeze, and sunshine. (From here I can see the embassy and check
for any smoke rising from it.) I feel
comfortable and safe.
Tonight Baboo and I are
going to walk to the Superette, a 7/11-type store where we buy our staples like
cereal, milk, cheese, cleaning stuff. I
look forward to getting out, but I am still very nervous. I am not worried about demonstrations. They are usually pretty easy to avoid and I
believe the government here in Algeria is strong and tough, pro-US, and can
handle (read: suppress) any trouble.
This government, though rigid, has been in place for many many years and
was not the subject of any Arab Spring uprisings and, in fact, was reelected
this past spring. So I think this is why
they can handle and direct the police and provide security for us. This is not the case in the other Arab
countries where the governments are so new that they don’t have much control
over anything yet. They cannot protect
themselves, much less all the foreign interests. So what worries me is not the possibility of
mobs, but instead the stealthy presence of terrorism and the ability of
committed individuals to pick me up off the street. Hopefully, this is not a serious threat and I
won’t be worried about it for long. But
for now, the embassy is taking everything very seriously and making significant
efforts to keep us safe. I can certainly
deal with any inconveniences. Of course,
our long-planned trip to the golf spa in Tunisia is on the chopping block. Bummer.
