There may or may not be a military spring offensive planned for the Pakistan-Afghanistan region - where Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding - but the State Department is warning Americans to take cover if they go there:

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests there.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulates in Karachi , Lahore , and Peshawar continue to operate at reduced staffing levels. Family members of official Americans assigned to all four posts in Pakistan were ordered to leave the country in March 2002 and have not been allowed to return.

Al-Qaida and Taliban elements continue to operate inside Pakistan , particularly along the porous border region. Their presence, coupled with that of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan , requires that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan take appropriate security measures.

Continuing tensions in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence. As security has tightened at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated the willingness and capability to attack more vulnerable targets, including facilities where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit, such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events.

Most terror warnings are daunting things to read, but if this is a pre-cursor to any major action to get bin Laden, many people would consider that a good thing. Keep your fingers crossed.