Afghanistan

[Sundae]

I dunno. Talk about being in thrall to the enemy.
There is taking reasonable precautions and there is allowing empty words to affect day to day lives.

Pretty much every time I've switched on the news (generally mealtimes, although I listen to a rolling news radio station too) they mention threats, Embassy closures, people being brought home.

The IRA used a code word when they issued threats.
That didn't work either, because empty threats are very cheap for terrorists and cause maximum disruption. But to be fair to the IRA they were far more about killing than anything else.

Manchester for example, not enough time or information to clear the two sites, glass and debris raining down within a half mile radius.
Don't worry, although there were "buildings torn to shreds as though made of papier mache; water pouring out of twisted structures as though they had been crushed; holes pockmarked over building facades as though teams of demolition men had been trying to knock them down" only 65 innocent people with no connection to the politics of Northern Ireland were hurt.

ETA - Joe, I'm just on my usual hobbyhorse and none of the above applies to you!
Over the years I've met family and friends of squaddies who were in Northern Ireland and they were as far removed from the views of "movers and shakers" as I suspect you are.
You simply have my support as a person.