Why isnt one allowed to photograph US embassies?

Question

Why isnt one allowed to photograph US embassies from the outside?on two ocassions one in Ghana and the other in Argentina my friend tried to photograph the US embassy from outside and both times a security guard came and consficated the camara saying it was prohibited to photograph US embassy but they wouldnt say why...does anyone know the answer?

Thanks

Answer 1

If the bad guys don't have a picture of the building to look at, they don't know which point to attack it do they?

Answer 2

All embassies have the same requirement, not just American, and for the same reason - security.

Answer 3

it's a security risk

Answer 4

Simply the word is security.

Answer 5

I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but when I was in Europe over the summer, I went to a very famous Jewish synagogue in Rome. They told us we couldn't take photographs for security reasons. They were worried that terrorists could get an idea of what the inside looked like and use it to plan an attack. When I had to go the US embassy in Paris, they wouldn't let me take pictures and confiscated all electronics while people were inside. I imagine that it's for the same security reasons.

Answer 6

Security.

Answer 7

Many other countries routinely try to conduct surveillence on American embassies.  One general photo of an American embassy can point out positions of guards around the compound, distance from the perimeter to the building itself, camera locations, overall structure of the outside of the building (for bomb penetrations) and much more.  

Of course all this isn't that hard to figure out, and if one really wanted to, they wouldn't just walk up and try to take a picture of it.  But you can never be sure who is who these days, and it is always best to be on the safe side.  Besides, even if an innocent civilian snaps a photo, there's no harm done, but what if he/she posts it up on the internet for their friends?  Now everybody has access, including the bad guys.

Answer 8

Its because if photos fell into terrorists hands they could use them as an aid as to where best to place a bomb. We're not allowed to photograph downing street over here either.