A Lert! A Lert!
Sounds like something Luna and her father'd go looking for, actually... a Lert.
If reports are to be believed, then in January 2001, one of the first acts of the new Administration was to put a stop to most investigations involving Saudis and/or al Queda. This down from the minimal level the investigations had been at previously, under Clinton.
Now the government says that threat indicators are 'perhaps greater now than at any point' since the WTC attacks. Forgive me for my skepticism, but is this including all the indicators they ignored, or not? Because especially if it does include all the ignored warning signs, then I'm not worried.
What good does worrying about a possible attack do? For the average citizen, it only adds a more worrisome note to the holidays. Is it important for law enforcement officials to be aware of the potential for new attacks? Undoubtedly. Do the first responders need to be told? Perhaps, but I guess part of me hopes that they'd be ready regardless of what colour Tom Ridge announces today.
Of course, some of our first responders, and their immediate backups, aren't here, reading to help with homeland security. They're over in Iraq, fighting a 'fictious war' for our 'fictious president,' and that, in my opinion, is one of the greatest threats, if not the greatest threat, to our security here in the United States proper.
So Tom Ridge raises the national threat level to orange, and within hours, it's the top headline on every newssite I visit. What does it really mean for the average citizen? Are we to go out and buy more duct tape and plastic wrap?
If there is an attack again, tomorrow, next week, next year, a decade from now, we will all be shocked and horrified, saddened and grieving. No matter what colour Tom Ridge pinpointed on the scale for the day it happened.
(Also, on ajc.com, the ad paired with the story - with headline "Nation's threat level risen to orange' - is a Home Depot ad. Lots and lots of Orange.)
If reports are to be believed, then in January 2001, one of the first acts of the new Administration was to put a stop to most investigations involving Saudis and/or al Queda. This down from the minimal level the investigations had been at previously, under Clinton.
Now the government says that threat indicators are 'perhaps greater now than at any point' since the WTC attacks. Forgive me for my skepticism, but is this including all the indicators they ignored, or not? Because especially if it does include all the ignored warning signs, then I'm not worried.
What good does worrying about a possible attack do? For the average citizen, it only adds a more worrisome note to the holidays. Is it important for law enforcement officials to be aware of the potential for new attacks? Undoubtedly. Do the first responders need to be told? Perhaps, but I guess part of me hopes that they'd be ready regardless of what colour Tom Ridge announces today.
Of course, some of our first responders, and their immediate backups, aren't here, reading to help with homeland security. They're over in Iraq, fighting a 'fictious war' for our 'fictious president,' and that, in my opinion, is one of the greatest threats, if not the greatest threat, to our security here in the United States proper.
So Tom Ridge raises the national threat level to orange, and within hours, it's the top headline on every newssite I visit. What does it really mean for the average citizen? Are we to go out and buy more duct tape and plastic wrap?
If there is an attack again, tomorrow, next week, next year, a decade from now, we will all be shocked and horrified, saddened and grieving. No matter what colour Tom Ridge pinpointed on the scale for the day it happened.
(Also, on ajc.com, the ad paired with the story - with headline "Nation's threat level risen to orange' - is a Home Depot ad. Lots and lots of Orange.)