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

Fox News-TV

[putupon]

announcement, nothing furthur

[snopercod]

...how is that announcement, in and of itself, "stupid"?

Because it does absolutely nothing to protect us from whatever the terrorists have in store for us. In fact, it's counterproductive since it keeps the sheeple glued to their TV sets instead of packing a survival kit or doing the hundreds of other things that might actually save them in case of an attack of some kind.

There is no way these attacks can be stopped, totally. We can only prepare ourselves to deal with them.

[camas]

he is not dealing with clinton now

[Syncro]

The Government is telling all nonessential Gov workers to leave Saudi Arabia, and is paying for it.

It also told all Americans non-guv they should leave too.

I think there are about 3,000 of them

[snopercod]

...the rest of us are much lower priority

Yeah, I noticed that too.

[Lady Jag]

Don't be sad. Jokes are meant to lift spirits in times of trial.

[Thinkin' Gal]

something big is happening to cancel all those vacations. I take this very seriously and Homeland Security is the best we have so I don't like the flipness about it from some on this thread

Maybe it's just gallows humor. Short of fleeing the country, what can most do? It may be nothing, and it may be huge, but the average citizen never has much concrete to go on, and are at the mercy of this Sesame Street color-coded alert system. This stuff always reminds me of a scene in Men in Black:

Kay: WE DO NOT DISCHARGE OUR WEAPONS IN VIEW OF THE PUBLIC!

Jay: We don't got time for this cover-up bull sh*t... Look, I don't know if you forgot but there's an Arquillean Battle---

Kay: There's always an Arquillian Battle Cruiser, or a Korilian Death Ray, or an intergalactic plague that is about to wipe out life on this miserable planet. The only way these people get on with their happy lives is they do not KNOW ABOUT IT.

***

[hummingbird]

on the other hand, the terrorists listen to the leftists of the world and believe that a terror attack would bring bush down.

I hadn't thought about the left's support which is certainly emboldening...wonder if the terrorists are all that irritated about Hussein being captive. Maybe they would be just as eager to bring the president down regardless of Hussein's situation. "On the other hand," maybe they would want to do something before Hussein cries like a baby and tells all. Hmmmm...so many variables....

[Pubbie]

And clearly many Freepers have bought into Ridge's Smoke and Mirror show hook line and sinker. LOL

I can understand wanting to be a Bushbot - But a "RidgeBot"? - come ON people!

[relee]

At 1 PM, which was before the Sec. Ridge news conference at 1:30, CBS radio news had on a person I believe to be Niel Livingston of Global Options, talking about activity in the futures markets. He was on again at 3 PM, after the news conference, and said the authorities will be checking the specificity and may have to raise it to the highest level.

I only heard the newscasts in passing and posted what I heard. I will listen carefully to the 4 PM news and post the info here.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"None of the majors are covering it."

Turn on FOX NEWS
These idiots just can't stop talking about it.
They even have a reporter in NYC telling people on the street about it.
They do the terrorists PR for them.

[Cousin Eddie]

Let's count 'em.

1. At least 4 targets. Even if they missed one or two (they missed at least one due to the heroes in PA), they were bound to hit some. There may have been more that we never heard of because the fleet was grounded so fast that perhaps other planned attacks didn't happen.

2. Multiple potential targets in D.C. -- Pentagon, Capitol, White House.

3. Other targets in NY. Obviously if they didn't hit the WTC, they could have hit the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or any of a number of targets.

You're getting nowhere with your arguments.

[oceanview]

speak for yourself and where you live. having some portion of the 30,000 NYPD officers stopping and searching vans and trucks, rather then writing parking tickets, is certainly something that can be done to thwart an attack.

what the hell am I personally going to do to stop an attack? forget about "surviving" an attack, the odds of any single individual being killed in a terror attack is extremely small.

[camas]

that is a small area with lots of US types all packed together.

we are a BIG country with lots of room between targets so done worry just keep on truckin.

[bert]

.....If these warnings start getting specific, like time and place specific.....

You should keep in mind that there ordinary cotten pickers, foremen and plantation owners. I doesn't help any thing to panic the ocps, the foremen and the PO's need to know and marshall the resources to act. The OCPs can't do any thing but react.

Those who need to know .....know.

[Bobby777]

one was Islamic Associate for Palestine ... IAP in Texas ... interestingly, they just came up in the news again a week ago or so in Illinois where one of their own was funding "charities" or something ...

that kind of information is helpful, because it helps Americans know more of where they should be more vigilant ... nothing is foolproof, I understand ...

I worry about sports stadiums ... especially in this season and with these alerts ... I wouldn't be surprised if they had eyed them too ... I would hope there is serious air coverage on patrol whenever a big game is underway ...

[angkor]

Here's what AP is saying is the transcribed text of the speech:

"I have said many times before that homeland security begins at home. I guess it means I'm saying it again. Your awareness and vigilance can help tremendously. So please use your common sense, and report suspicious packages, vehicles or activities to local law enforcement. Go over your family emergency plans, and if you haven't developed one by now, please do so."

"Never has that been more true" isn't there.

Text of Ridge Comments on Threat Level, Newsday

[relee]

I believe he is Neil Livingston of Global Options.

[bvw]

Quedaffy's been there longer and under more pressure than the others, and he's NOT all-over daffy like Saddam or so corrupted by wealth as the Sauds, nor is he as quivering from local political instability as the rulers of Syria, Egypt, etc.

I wonder what his relationship to China is?

[snopercod]

What the hell am I personally going to do to stop an attack?

Like Todd Beamer, you will know when the time comes. Eagles UP!

[oceanview]

Rita Cosby's special sources reporting in now:

- communications intercepts of cell phones and internet chatter from AQ involving fuel trucks and/or aircraft in the US.
- known AQ members in france, germany and italy have gone "underground" in the recent days, just like before 9/11.
- she is talking about those missing "dirty bomb" rockets.