About March or April every year, as if scheduled to complicate our METS plans it seems, there is a new crisis in the Middle East and I begin to get the same question: “Are you really going to go this time?” The only difference this year was that the question was raised more often and with more intensity. It was to be our first METS trip to the Middle East since 9/11. Things seemed to be going from bad to worse in Iraq . Israel 's assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the widely influential Muslim cleric, sent shock waves throughout the Muslim world. Then President Bush publicly assured Prime Minister Sharon of U.S. support for his unilateral plans regarding Gaza and the West Bank; whereupon Sharon authorized another high-level assassination and announced a major infusion of funds to expand West Bank settlements.

So it was a legitimate question that required response, especially to those in the new METS group who were about to set out with me to such scary places as Damascus , Lebanon and Jerusalem . Without repeating the full letter I sent out to them in April, I will repeat some of the points I made in the letter.

•  Things do look bad in the Middle East , which means that we are pretty much on schedule for a normal METS adventure…

•  I have no reservations at all about traveling in the Arab countries. It is my experience, based on 40-plus years of travel in the Middle East , that the Arabs—be they Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Egyptians or Palestinians—do not hold individual Americans responsible for our government's actions. You will find them to be gracious hosts. And regardless of how much they may detest U.S. policies, such matters normally will be avoided in conversation unless you raise them.

•  So as usual, Israel is the problem. And in Israel , the point is to stay away from danger zones, such as Israeli shopping centers and public transportation, which we certainly will do. Our travel arrangements in Israel , by the way, will be handled through the same Christian Palestinian company that has looked after the METS program since 1980.

•  When have you heard of a tourist being harmed in Syria , Lebanon , Jordan , Sinai , Israel or Greece ? Think about it; go back twenty or thirty years. Statistically, in spite of all the Middle Eastern violence, the most dangerous part of our trip will be the bus ride on I-85 from the Hampton Inn to the Atlanta Airport .

•  Yet all travel involves risks, and I cannot guarantee your safety (even from the Hampton Inn to the airport). If the METS program is too risky for your personal comfort, then you should withdraw. I do urge you, however, if you are harboring any such reservations, to make your decision now and let us know ASAP.

Two potential travelers did in fact withdraw because of the security situation. But the rest of us had a great trip with all of the usual METS magic. I believe the following comment from Martha Pope, a Lay traveler from Washington , DC , reflects the sentiments of the 2004 group as a whole.

“I have to admit that my father sounded relieved to have me home safely from the troubled region of the Middle East . I assured him that I never felt the least bit threatened at any time we were there (and reminded him that I am probably less safe while living in Washington , D.C. ). It is clear that the "Arab street" does not approve of the U.S. policies with regard to Iraq and Israel/Palestine. However, opposition was always expressed with respect. In fact, it was my experience that all of the people whom I met on our travels were pleased and grateful to have us as visitors.”