Ridge to raise Terror Alert, news conf. 1:30 pm Eastern

Fox News-TV

[putupon]

announcement, nothing furthur

[oceanview]

yes.

we would have to move quickly on Pakistan if (when) there is some type of coup there. or get india to do it for us.

[Catspaw]

If you bought honeybelles, I'm going to be *very* angry at you--not mention JEALOUS.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

no offense intended ... but, I think it's the non-specificity of these alerts that is the problem ... what shall we do at Orange that we don't do at Yellow? ... our enemies plot for surprise ... they were here sometimes for years, before they executed ...

I think we're expecting too much. If these warnings start getting specific, like time and place specific, AQ will be able to shut down cities, air travel, malls, etc with well designed hoaxes.

Actually, they can do it now. We don't know that this "chatter" isn't designed to create fear during the Christmas shopping season and slow down the economic upswing. If AQ's history is any indication, that's exactly what it is (more often than not, their threats don't come to fruition).

But we have to know that one of these days, they're going to pull something off. They only have to get lucky once. When they do, it's going to be ugly.

For me, the Orange Alert is just a reminder. We're still at war, the enemy is still evil beyond imagination, heads up, people. That's it. I'm sure it means more to the Law Enforcement and National Security communities, but for us, it's just a heads up. How we plan to deal with the next attack is up to us.

[cyncooper]

But it works. If you have Fox on but you're not paying attention, you look up when you hear the *GONG*. They would have gotten rid of it years ago if it didn't have the desired effect.

Actually I tend to ignore their alerts anymore. Last Sunday we slept in unusually late for us, because we'd been to a Christmas party Saturday night. So I got up at 9:45 Arizona time and turned on the tv and saw the word "Alert" across the screen and didn't even bother to pay attention right away as I poured my coffee. It was several minutes before I realized we'd captured Saddam Hussein. A true "Alert".

[FairOpinion]

"Steve Emerson said something about a threat of a truck bomb"

===

See:

TERROR ALERT TO TRUCKERS (Lake Erie region, North & South Carolina)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1044321/posts

[bvw]

Okay. But since then we conquered Afghanistan and Iraq, and just have had Libya give up the ghost. Remember that spat reported at the Arab conference a few months back? The window of opportunity for certain potentates and nations is closing quickly -- they HAVE to make a shot or be lost.

[Gucho]

al Qaeda's second in command Ayman al-Zawahri, saying his group was chasing Americans everywhere, including the United States.

"America has been defeated (by) our fighters despite all its military might, its weaponry ... With God's help we are still chasing Americans and their allies
everywhere, including their homeland," said the speaker, believed to be Zawahri who the United States says is Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s deputy.

His script writer has to be Baghdad Bob!

[dawn53]

I'm all for making folks aware of increased level of threat.

I would think the terrorists would not only want to attack us, but also to run the economy into the pits.

If they were going to attack, why not right after Thanksgiving before the Christmas shopping began.

At this point, shopping has mostly been completed.

Of course, I realize, there are lots of other sectors of the economy that would be affected by a terrorist attack, but I am suprised that since 9/11 the especially vulnerable and easy target of retail Christmas shopping hasn't been targeted.

One suicide bomber in one mall on the day after Thanksgiving would have been all it took to put a serious dent in retail shopping, IMHO.

[Catspaw]

I watch them all the time and have posted before my complaints about their abuse of their "Alert" system. But the impending guest arrivals for the Jackson party really had me rolling my eyes.

Not to mention the GONG! Kobe Byrant goes to the bathroom at the courthouse! Alert!!!!

[ElkGroveDan]

Time to start hoarding scotch tape and wrapping paper.

[FairOpinion]

"I believe he said the officials, (FBI, CIA, DHS) will review this specific information and may up the alert to red alert if necessary, or something like that."

==

What specific information? Please keep me from having to go back to read the past 450 posts to find out.

[cajungirl]

If I were the terrorists, I would be more afraid of Israel than of us. As a matter of fact, Israel is a lot scarier than us,,they don't take it lying down very well. We hem and haw, it takes alot to get us as het up as the Israeli's are. And BTW lately when I fly, and I fly alot, I have quit scanning passengers, etc, as I used to do so maybe this alert is good, people will look around more. If james Wood saw today what he reported prior to 911, he would be listened to unless he told some bimbo. And I don't think they are bimbos anymore, after 911.

[The Turbanator]

We will wait and see. You might be right.

[oceanview]

that is certainly their MO, truck bombs.

I was in times square a couple of weeks ago, on a saturday night, "primetime". the streets are packed with people, if they drove a gasoline tanker there, or a van packed with C4, they could do alot of damage in a very visible place.

[WackyKat]

eventually, Musharraf of Pakistan will fall because of natural causes, or he'll be killed by radicals just like Anwar Sadat ... I remind everyone that this is the only confirmed Islamic nuclear power on the face of the Earth at this moment ... and they have many people sympathetic to bin Laden ...

Scary, isn't it?

If the Fundies took over Pakistan, we would have no choice but to strike their nukes immediately

It's a concern even now that sympathizers will give a nuke to Al-Quaeda

[bvw]

And I wouldn't put it past Quedaffy to be double or triple crossing.

[Bobby777]

I just wish we would seal the borders ... at least better than they are now ... further, this should be required viewing ... some of the footage was shot at an exhibition hall where I did work (about 7-8 years prior to this footage ... IOW, we did shows there in 1981-1982 - the videotape in this film is from 1989-1990) ... I managed stage hands and Teamsters (part of the time) while we set up trade shows ... I never saw a "trade show" quite like the one in this video ... it's all real videotape ...



http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005TPOO/qid%3D1072039360/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-4483986-2286210

[StarFan]

Can you explain why they're asking non essential personnel to leave Saudi Arabia and come home if we're being targeted? When I first heard that, I was lead me to believe the alert was directed abroad.

[MizRiz9]

Whoa, it sure looks orange to me. When did you look at it last?

[syriacus]

Should something happen, it might strengthen Dean's position in warning that we aren't any safer than we were before 9/11..

It could strengthen Dean's position with some folks and, at the same time, it could weaken it with others.

For example, conspiracy theorists could ask, "What did Dean know...and when did he know it?"

It seems that every statement made by a candidate has three interpretations. One interpretation makes them look smart and another makes them look dumb. A third one makes them look conniving.