BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts

Subject: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 04:29 PM

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/chatter.jpg



http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/coloercode.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 05:02 PM

They are now placing surface to air missles around DC monuments.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 05:33 PM

Geeze, how did America allow itself to be highjacked by these narrow minded autocrats?...

Like, I'd like to know why the Department of Homeland Security pulls these things out willy-nilly any danged time they want. What's this their 10th or so? And like what are people supposed to do, anyway? Oh yeah, look fir suspicious behavior..... Don't most folks do that anyway? I mean, like if I see some guy pull up to a gas pump, take the danged hose and start squirting gas into the backseat of his car do you think I'm gonna be less concerned if there isn't a Code Orange?

How simplistic do these folks think the American people are? And after the Oklahoma bombing, if I work at a manure place an some one pulls up in a Ryder truck and says, "Fill 'er up, pal, and by the way, where can I get 55 gallons of kerosene?" what, like I'm not gonna be concerend because Tom Ridge didn't call fir one more of his dumb alerts?

See, what I mean?

Beam me up...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 06:28 PM

Code red really is Martial law with control/cessation of all travel roadways, etc.
The only difference in the provision to declare code red is that a reason must be given unlike orange or yellow that need no explaination whatsoever.

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/santaorange.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Greg F.
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 06:40 PM

But not necessarily a REAL reason. More like a pretext with the current crop of congenital liars in office.

Gotta keep the public pissing their pants about "terrorists" from time to time so they'll vote for Dumbya & the Junta.

"A clock that's shaken hard enough
It cannot stay in rhythm"-

No, No, NO! Looking for suspicious people is that other joke, TIPS
(a.k.a. Ashcroft's Army)

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: DougR
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 10:37 PM

Geeze, Donuel, I thought you were going to share YOUR thoughs on terrorist threats! I'm just basing my comments on the title of YOUR thread.

And as an aside, anyone who does not appreciate the warnings should not complain if they get their asses blown off because they had their head up their you-know-what when some strange looking guy wanders into the shopping center where they are shopping and blows themselves and everyone around them to kingdom-com.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 11:00 PM

Green, blue, yellow, orange, red. Is that all there is? No magenta, puce, mauve or fuchsia? What about ecru? God! Don't those government types have any fashion sense?

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 11:20 PM

Ho hum
another ad hominum.

Your oblique thoughts that I am flexible enough to stick my head up my ass is a false assumption. I am not.

Also the government's advice is to continue shopping ect. despite the code orange.

Cheney said 2 years ago that our war on terrorism should claim more civilian lives than military.

In this one case I take his threat seriously.

Rumsfeld has said for over a decade that the US requires a sufficient Pearl Harbor event to mobilize effectively for any military action.

Again I believe that to be true.

Yes I believe that when it serves evil men's purposes to invite diaster, they will consider it merely as a cost of doing business.

I also believe that simply because lie after lie has been exposed it is no reason for people like yourself to disbelieve the next whopper.
Not only is it your nature, there is the matter of you already investing in a scheme too evil to ever admit the truth to yourself, let alone others. I bet you even drink bottled water :D :D

And finally, yes I did those illustrations today.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 03 - 11:25 PM

as well as this one...

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/bushroman.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:06 AM

I thought Mayor Bloomberg of New York City spoke very clearly on the subject today. He said these various color coded levels of threat are directed at the security forces across the country, not members of the public. That's the only part of it that has started to make sense to me.

And, no. I don't think that more threat necessarily comes from "strange looking guys". Reminds me of an argument I had years ago with someone who said that I'd feel differently about it someday when I was "faced with a black guy pointing a gun" at me. I told him I'd feel every bit as bad about it if it was a white guy.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:29 AM

Well Doug, I sure don't want to get MY ass blown off so I have my duct tape......AND, my sheet of plastic will be all ready for use as soon as I get the Wesson Oil off of it.............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:45 AM

I always know when we are on alert, because I live near a National Guard armory. If it isn't the third weekend of the month and there is no @#$%^&*!!!! place to @#$%^&**&!!!! park on my street because the guard is at the armory, we're on alert. We've been on alert since Thursday, but they didn't tell us until Monday. I think they didn't want to slow up the Christmas shopping season.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Hrothgar
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:51 AM

A bit early for the election, isn't it? If they pull too many of these people will get tired of then or, what's worse, bored.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: DMcG
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:08 AM

Some time ago I worked at a secure site where the security officer sent out an email to all staff that the level had been raised from 'Black' to 'Black Special'. I contacted him asking how I should change my behaviour as a result - naturally, he couldn't think of an answer.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:22 AM

Not too early for election effects. It is the last time many families will be all together to discuss things until Thanksgiving next year.

As usual the US is claiming/blaming England for the terror alert.

I would be more comic if it were simply a matter of a little boy crying WOLFowitz.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: RichM
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 08:56 AM

I hope that there is no terrorist action---that the threat is indeed false.
But I keep seeing in my mind a picture of two towers collapsing...

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 09:06 AM

Doug - where was your ironic cry of "The Sky is falling!" this time?

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Peg
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:50 AM

what's bugging me   is how they;re saying they h ave more intelligence   this time than at any time since 9-11...huh? Does that mean they had signs of 9-11 and didn;t bother to warn anyone? Thanks, guys.

I tend to find this promulgation of fear through the media yet another example of the government wanting to beat everyone down and subdue their free will to the point where they will accept the regime of change, the new laws allowing invasion of privacy and dictation of ideology to people who are supposed to be free Americans.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:03 AM

Unless they have some really concrete reason for believing an attack might occur, I don't really want to hear about it.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Peg
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:08 AM

The latest is that they have intelligence that Al-Qaeda operatives have been trying to permeate airport security systems to find vulnerable spots.

Wonder if they'll consider Logan again? All they really have now that's different from before is big fancy video monitors at security checkpoints announcing in various languages instructions for getting through the line faster...plus, occasionally, a bunch of jack-booted National Guard thugs carrying big semi-automatic weapons.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Kim C
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:17 AM

Mister and I were having this discussion the other night. I think that if Al-Qaeda was really, truly capable of wreaking havoc in the US again, they would have already done it. I'm not convinced they have the means. I think a lot of this "chatter" is trash talk on their part just to keep people frightened. Psychological warfare and all that.

But that isn't necessary. I think we're all very much aware that something else -could- happen, anytime, anyplace. And while I'm not necessarily frightened by it, I am aware of that possibility.

I also believe it would be very, very difficult to pull off another hijacking. I don't think the passengers would stand for it.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Peg
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:56 AM

agreed Kim, on the passengers. But these people are martyrs for   the cause. What's to stop one of them just bringing a bomb or accelerant on board? I like to think such things would be found   beforehand, but they may have other ways into the airplanes...

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Cluin
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:58 AM

First they steal your unencumbered enjoyment of the holidays. Later, they'll find more subtle means of breaking your spirit.

Who? The terrorists or the present administration?

Does it matter in the end?

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 12:00 PM

Maybe the threat level has been raised to orange because our intelligence sources are reporting an Al Qaeda plot to send a suicide bomber to the U.S. dressed in a red suit in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. They have set up anti-aircraft missiles around Washington, DC to shoot him down but we don't think he'll be coming there this year.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 01:10 PM

The proper response to an orange alert is to continue with whatever you're planning to do, but think Republican.

If one were to take this seriously, the logical moves would be to cancel any planned flights and head out to the boondocks. Frankly, I'd be more concerned with one of the new Anti-Aircraft Missiles downing an un-hijacked commercial flight. Friendly fire..Humbug!

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Greg F.
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 01:30 PM

That's think LIKE a Republican, Dick. And Peg, the "beat[ing] everyone down and subdue[ing] their free will" gambit seems to be working a treat.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:02 PM

Doug,

Exactly what does "Code Orange" mean to you. What are you doing differently? Peekin' in yer neighbors windows? Ahhh, hidin' in the woods with binoculars? Man, those things are gonna get yer butt blown off. So please don't do anything like that... We'd hate to loose you.

And, should the terrorists hit yer neighborhood, what has yer community told you ro do? If it's like the D.C. area, which is a real target, probably not one danged thing..

And lastly, if I have certain information that somehting is going to happen, why do I want to tell the terrorists? That's probably the most important question. Scarin' the crap out of everyone else isn't much of a defense...

Waitin' on yer answers....

BTW, you don't think the terrorist would highjack Santa's sleigh do you? Now that would really piss me off.

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:07 PM

Now I wonder what they'd call "an orange alert" in Belfast, to stop people getting needlessly worried?

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:21 PM

4. High Condition (Orange). A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:


Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce; and
Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.


All the above means major revisions to schedules at a time when there is a huge increase in travel. Managing the resources, manpower and changes to facilities in order to protect ordinary citizens in the event of an attack makes this vital. If an attack occurs or is prevented, some or all of you will sing a different song.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:35 PM

GUEST-
My objection is not to alerting authorities, who can do something; it's to scaring the public, who can't.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: mg
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:47 PM

yes the public can do stuff. They can choose whether to congregate, travel, dig a fox hole or whatever. They should be as informed as possible. I had a niece and nephew and baby who were in NYC..should they not have been warned if they knew? mg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 09:48 PM

The psychological target of choice is a televised event. Something with thousands of people. An event with a follow up - just in case there were not enough cameras in the right spot and if early pictures are not graphic enough.

My friends a "9-11" super bowl would rile enough americans to endure any kind of martial law/code red/canceled elections/suspended Congress etc.

This 1 2 3 punch of invisible terrorist attack scenarios would provide an excuse for Corproate Stateism.

For 25 years the CIA has run the show and the Bush family (having the father as the former CIA director as president and then his son - is no coincidence.

I know the credo of the CIA. I know their TEAM mentality. You are with them or against them. It is us or them. It is they that know whatever road they take is the high road and every other road is low.
You either have a clearence to "know" or you are "no"body. You either have every advantage they have access to or you inherit the nightmare of their choice.

Ladies and Gentleman we are witnessing the greatest unabashed coup this country has seen since the Civil War.
.............................


And as for the rhetoric that "our civil rights seem fine to me" ...Patriot Act 2 was slipped to Congress the very Sunday people was watching a sleep deprived Saddam on TV.



Some of you know exactly what US Corporations have gotten in the last 4 years. I cringe to say US corporations since they have their headquarters in Bermuda, calling center in India and factory in Mexico or China. Whatever harm they can do to you is now capped at $250,000 camages even if you are paralyzed for life.
Chemical plants may now legally keep secret any spill of any toxin - even to hospital doctors trying to respond to a disaster.
It is now legal for CEO's to intentionally lie about profits and holdings (that was passed over Clinton's veto - it was billed as the frivilous lawsuit legislation)

If you want to read more about the actual TEAM in charge
here is a free book ...http://www.ratical.com/ratville/JFK/ST/ST.html

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:22 PM

Well, Donuel, you got the story... Ahhh, wish it were just that... But it ain't... It's the danged truth...

As a Christian I don't don't easily use words that, while seem common place with many, I use very sparingly but...

... to Hell with Bush and his corporate boys. The world is getting a good old fashion "Deliverence" butt screwing from him and his facsists friends... What an absolute SCAM!!!! Might aswell kiss democracy goodbye... These lieing crooks has stolen the government and they have no intentionsd of ever giving it back.

Don't like it? Well, screw you.........

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST,harpy
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 11:08 PM

I'm with Dick and Bobert on this one. What good does it do the general public to issue an alert that gives no specifics? We are all already eyeing everyone who looks middle eastern as it is...It just makes the holidays unpleasant for many. My poor 79 year old mother looks around in her yearly Christmas depression and believes that the world is empty and terrified and all staying home...Bush and his gang of robber barons can all go to hell!

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 06:28 AM

If you took the time to check fire extinguishers, first aid kits, food supplies, drug supplies (non recreational) some fresh water in bottles, and topped up the gasoline in your cars, then you got the point. If you just whine that it's scarey and pointless to be warned, I can't do anything so why bother me approach, the old saying "ignorance is bliss" applies. Merry Christmas

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: musicmick
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 03:18 AM

Guest, of course, is right. The response to these various "codes" and the undeniable inconveniences that security measures produce is determined by the feeling of vulnerability. Americans, sheltered as we have been for centuries, don't really feel threatened. Hell, we didn't even take it seriously when the first, failed attempt was made on the WTC. It is not dificult to understand our smugness. We have not had foriegn attack on our soil since 1815 (discounting Pearl Harbor which was well before Hawaii became a state). We read about terrorist attacks in Israel, Paris and a lot of places we can't pronounce. We felt invulnerable for so long that it is hard to change our views. But we must change if we are to survive an enemy more avid and ruthless than we have ever known. Finding an acceptable compromise between security and civl liberty is not easy. Total freedom is simply not possible with increased vigilance. Attributing base motives to the present regime may be philosophically satisfying but, unless the Bush haters (and I am of their number) can come up with a better plan for security, I will trust those who, at least, are doing something beside just bitching.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST,Frank
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:08 PM

Fear is the great controlling mechanism (as has been said here).
"Terrorism" is a word that is associated with bin Laden and Al Quaeda
but the truth of the matter is that bin Laden doesn't care one way or another about "hating American freedom" as the latest Bush propaganda has it. Al Quaeda wants a Muslim theocracy in the
Middle East. And they'll do anything to get it.

But with the Iraq debacle in place, they are winning hence we have
nothing much to fear. (Except fear itself....FDR)

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 06:38 PM

Fortunately for my "patriotism", it doesn't occur at all to me to wonder whether a country I love just might target a certain country it feels has not been supportive enough.

December 25, 2003 Associated Press/ PARIS - French investigators questioned seven men pointed out by U.S. intelligence but found no evidence they planned to use a Los Angeles-bound jet to launch terror attacks against the United States, French authorities said Thursday...

The seven questioned men, who all had tickets for Air France Flight 68 to Los Angeles, were on a watch list provided by U.S. authorities, an Interior Ministry spokesman said. But all were released after questioning Wednesday night, the spokesman said. "There are no longer any investigations," he said.

France's anti-terrorism judicial unit chose not to launch a formal investigation because of a lack of evidence of an attack, the judicial official said. None of the passengers on the canceled flights, including those questioned at the airport, were known to French intelligence authorities or found to have links with Islamic extremist groups, the official said.

French authorities also investigated a man from Tunisia whose name was supplied by American intelligence. But the judicial official said tthe man was in Tunisia with no plans to leave for the United States. He has no criminal record and does not belong to any radical Islamic groups.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: mg
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 08:49 PM

You might want to keep reading the Drudge Report. mg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Dec 03 - 10:01 PM

Ahhhhh, excuse my overly vulgar post of Dec. 23rd. The P-Vine must have spiked the egg-nog...

But no apologies for the content... Bush and his cronies will do anything, and I mean anything, to hold power. Lie? Check. Cheat? Check. Steal? Check. Kill? Check.

Tell the truth? Forget it.

They are now trying to run out the clock on the '04 elections by sandbagging on the 9/11 Investigations.

You believe that?

Heck, a danged airplane falls into the ocean off New England and they spend months retrieving every nut and bolt of it and reassemble it in a hanger.

But let 19 Saudis hyjack 4 airlines and kill over 3000 people with em' and like, who cares????.... Not Bush? Hmmmmm? Why? Exactly what am I missing here?

Let a golfer's plane fly over a resricted space and F-16's are on it in minutes but let, not one, but 4 airliners drift way off their routes and zip! And after the 1st airliner hit the WTC, why would a 2nd be allowed to do the same when F-16's were within minutes of it yet it didn't hit the 2nd tower until some 20 minutes later? And why did the Bush governemnt allow bin Laden family memebers to be picked up the day after 9/11 when no other airliners were allowed to fly over US airspace except this Saudi airliner? Hmmmmmm? Wasn't it Sauidis that the governemnt had all ready identified as the hyjackers?

Something smells purdy danged bad here, folks.

I'm getting purdy danged tired of being lied to and being sandbagged by the Bush regime...

These guys are the most dangerous folks since Adolf Hitler. They make Joe McCarthy look like a Boy Scout...

We all need to get it into our feeble minds that the come next year, we're gonna have to give up some time that we spend here BS'ing to work on getting these folks out of office... America can't take another 4 years of this brutal assualt on the truth and on democracy....

I'm wearing my "Dean" pin and have my "Dean" bumper stickers on both cars and he if doesn't get nominated, whoever does in the Dem. party, I'll wear their buttonas and slap their stickers over the Dean ones... But, I'm serious, we need to get Bush out before it's too late... And with Diebold doing the counting we're gonna neede 53% of the vote to win....

We need to put a Code Orange on the Bush regime and send Bush back to the ranch...

Sorry about the drift...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: musicmick
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 02:36 AM

Well, Bobert, I'm glad to see you say it. You really are going to get off your soapbox and into the real fight? I'll believe it when I see it. The only fervor I've seen in the pits has been from the religious right, the feminist left and the professional politicians whose business it is to be involved. When you guys start realizing that political action is a process that is slow, frustrating, disappointing and, ultimately, fruitful, you will be taken seriously.
It will require that you work within the system and that means within the existing party structure. The religious right could have started their own party but they recognized that power was more readily obtainable by backing the Republicans and making themselves a major constituancy. You can do the same in the Democratic party. I hope you do. This nation needs a vocal and effective left wing. At present, the left is as potent as eunich.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 10:24 PM

The democrats are funded by the same type of people that the republicans are.Big business is the problem and representative democracy is the system it uses to maintain control.If the populace get too uppity demanding change etc then government sheds it skin and becomes the Democrat party government.The people blame the governments but it's who's behind the governments that are the real cause of the major problems.Government is merely a chameleon that changes it's skin to present a more attractive look to those it regulates,it's still the same beast.

In my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 10:49 PM

I had a beastly time coming home today. First there was a three hour wait at the airport, because there was a "mix up" with my ticket. Then I found out my suitcase had been searched. I am working on Howard Dean's campaign team, and I wish I thought it was a coincidence.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: maire-aine
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 11:39 PM

Amen, Brother Bobert. I, too, am volunteering for Howard Dean. I've put most of my other projects on hold (except playing music) since summer, until next November. The rest of the stuff can wait-- We've only got eleven months to get Bush voted out of office.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 01:59 AM

I'd like to make a point that doesn't seem to have occurred to anyone. Although I dislike Bush and his cabal, and distrust everything they do, it occurs to me that Al Qaeda may be pulling something interesting right now. All AQ has to do is make threats of terror -- it doesn't have to perform any actual terrorist acts, to do great damage to the US.

Consider that the Orange Alert level costs $1 billion a week to maintain. That's expensive for a country that is already running an enormous deficit from the ridiculous invasion of Iraq. If a sufficient number of threats are made, Orange Alert could become a "normal" status, with high associated costs. Red Alert would be much worse.

Consider the other costs as well as the financial ones. If the US is forced to live under constant Orange or Red Alerts, the psychological damage to the national psyche will be enormous. If people have to be constantly on guard, watching their neighbours, monitoring the behaviour of others, the US will move into a state of national neurosis which will negatively affect the culture.

Al Qaeda doesn't have to do anything but make threats, in order to wreak great harm, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 03:32 PM

Got it, pdc! Somebody starts a rumor or says "BOO!" and it all but paralyses the whole country and sucks billions of dollars out of the economy. How's that for a "weapon of mass destruction?" Not even high-tech.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 03:58 PM

I imagine that people in America can expect this kind of thing all this year.   Timed rightly, public warnings could be a very effectuive electoral ploy for Bush and Co.

At the same time, as has been pointed out, leaking phony threats is a great way for Al Qaida (or whoever) to hit the US economy without needing to do anything partucular.

Either way, spasmodically crying wolf every now and again will just help ensure that the security precautions get increasingly slack over a period of time.

The only sensible way to deal with a continuing threat is to maintain a continuing automatic level of caution, and get used to any inconvenience incurred as a way of life.

For example reorganise so as to cut down on the plane travel (we've got the Internet and all that now, electronic conferences and so forth), and build in the delays at the airports for those whose jourtneys are really necessary. And at the same time accept that you are never wholly safe in this life, and live with that.

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 05:08 PM

If any of you have the comedy movie 1943 starring John Belushi , check out Robert Stack explaining the color coded threat warnings in the begining of the movie. :D


btw pdc, It occured to me, and I did an editorial cartoon about that last week. "an Al Queda quarter in a phone booth destroys $7 billion of US money."

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 05:39 PM

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/math.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: My take on terrorist threat alerts
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 06:12 PM

Of course those might just be Bushie quarters at times...