HAZARDS OF OFFICIAL CONTACTS
Terrorists/insurgents generally assume that persons frequently visiting a U.S. Embassy are probably intelligence personnel. The same applies to persons making regular visits to U.S. military installations in a host country. In view of the fact that military units are often in local combat situations, any frequent association with military personnel could make you more of a target. If U.S. military personnel have caused any collateral damage (harm to local civilians), this creates another problem. Collateral damage acts to create revenge motives against Americans.
Ideally, charities/NGOs can operate their own programs, using their own resources, so official contact may be limited. The major exception to the above rule is when U.S. military units are solely dedicated to relief operations such as the 2004 Asian tsunami. Another basic exception is when charities/NGOs are working on assistance projects with official organizations such as USAID.
