the story running between this type of travel agencies at the time was that the guy refused to listen security instructions, got way more drunk and tried to go, multiple times, in place clearly mark « don’t go there ».

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. Not unusual for someone to come into the country on a tourist visa and commit a nasty taboo.

It helps to remember that this is a country we are still functionally at war with. Imagine a Ukrainian taking a vacation in Moscow. Or a Palestinian touring Tel Aviv. That's what these Americans are undertaking.