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The U.S. State Department issued a public announcement April 19 that it had received word of imminent terrorist attacks in Tunisia. Tunisia has long been a hub for militant Islamist activity,...

The U.S. State Department issued a warning April 19 to American citizens that it had "strong indications" terrorists could be planning imminent attacks inside of Tunisia. The warning gave no indication of the terrorists' potential targets or of a timetable for attacks, and the State Department said it had no information regarding the capabilities of the individuals who may be planning the attacks.

The warning indicates that militants -- who have long used Tunisia as a hub for their activities -- could have decided Tunisia constitutes an attractive target for an attack.

Tunisia -- because of its climate, expansive beaches and close proximity to Western Europe -- has become North Africa's tourist hub, drawing more than 6 million foreign tourists in 2004 alone and bringing in nearly $1.8 billion to the Tunisian economy. The heavy influx of tourists also has brought a large number of Western businesses and accompanying Western influences. An attack against tourists could seriously undermine the government’s revenue. It could also undermine the government itself -- an authoritarian regime led by aging President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali -- by showing that its tight control over its citizens is not completely effective.