Ridge's color code to measure threats

Washington Times ^ | 3/13/02 | Bill Sammon

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge yesterday announced a color-coded system to alert Americans of terrorism threat levels, predicting it will be years before the lowest level can be declared.

"With the Homeland Security Advisory System, we hope to make America safer and more aware," Mr. Ridge told a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution. "However, we should not expect a VT day, a victory over terrorism day, anytime soon."

[onedoug]

Color us just plain stupid, one guesses.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I kinda got the feeling, that ridge has been watching way too many reruns of star trek, red alert, yellow alert, et al.

[exit82]

One of the dumbest ideas I've heard, from a useless agency headed by a useless ex-governor.

Never anything about deporting illegal aliens, putting the military at our borders immediately, rounding up those on unexpired visas.Nope, but we gotta have our color-coded system for threats.

What if they're wrong. Whoops, we should have said red instead of yellow. Sorry, Chicago. Oops!?

For anyone who has had the responsibility of dealing with real life security issues, this is all a very unfunny, pathetic joke.

[onedoug]

Hello, well remembered friend.

I hope you may recall this rather arrogant post of mine, some 8 months ago.

You're one of those FR folk who've really helped me to think more deeply since.

Always thanks, and All the Best to You.

[Tuor]

Excuse me while I laugh.

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Okay. No, wait...

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Okay. I er..hehh. Er. Okay. Um. What kind of drugs is the head of the American KGB on now? Maybe he's seeing a lot of pretty colors and decided that he wants everyone else to see them, too.

More seriously, it is a way to make tyrannical moves seem more everyday. When they want to shut down airtravel, they won't have to alarm people. Just say, "Sorry everyone, we're Red today. Please come back tomorrow when we may be Yellow or possibly Blue." It's a way of making these things more regular and humdrum; a way of conditioning people to give up their freedoms based on whatever color their trusty and safety conscious (we care about you!) government tells them. Even the kids will like it!

Tuor

[The Duke]

I'd say Tom Ridge has been playin' just a bit too much Candyland!

[meenie]

Color me stupid, but does this have anything to do with homeland defense? Did Ridge fall off of the turnip wagon yesterday or is this his idea of security? I think this man is in need of a brain transplant. Profiling, no guns for pilots but F-16 shootdowns if terrotists get control of planes, everything points to a very confused man in his thinking.

Don't even get into feel-good border crossings and smiley-face visa applications for student visas from the Mideast. Pardon my dismay, but if this is what stands between us and future terrorist attacks, may the Good Lord have mercy upon us.

[Born on the Storm King]

I lived under "Condition Red" for weeks after the La Belle Discotheque terrorist bombing in Berlin, Germany in the Spring of 1986. Since I was one of the investigators of the crime, I'd drive everyday like a yoyo from one Army Post in Berlin to another. One day I decided to count how many times I was searched, and it was 27 times!

Now, do you see what Ridge has in mind? Condition Red will be checkpoint city!

[FreedomPoster]

I've said it before (most recently with his statements on guns for pilots), and I'll say it again here - any time Ridge opens his mouth, I'm less and less impressed. This is one *really* useless pronouncement.

Does anyone feel safer as a result of anything Ridge has done? If so, why?