U.S. issues global terrorists alert to close embassies and avoid another pony Benghazi scandal

I can understand issuing a travel alert to U.S. Citizens traveling abroad, but why go public about closing embassies?  Just close them quietly!  Or is what happened in Benghazi more than a phony scandal?

(CNN) -- A global travel alert issued Friday by the State Department warned al Qaeda may launch attacks in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond in coming weeks, a threat that prompted Sunday's closure of 21 embassies and consulates.

The U.S. government's actions are in response to growing intelligence that shows a potential for attacks in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East as well as North Africa, said U.S. officials who spoke to CNN on condition of not being identified.

"The threat appears to be much worse than it has (been) in a long time," said a senior national security official in Yemen, where the government is "on high alert against possible attacks in the days to come."

Various Western targets -- not just those tied to the United States -- are under threat, according to two U.S. officials.

According to three sources, the United States has information that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula members are in the final stages of planning for an unspecified attack.

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Why announce the closing of embassies 48 hours in advance?  Or maybe they’re trying to smoke the terrorists into the open?