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France sets up new terror alert system based on color codes
AP/Yahoo via Drudge ^
| March 27, 2003
| AP
Posted on 03/27/2003 11:50:48 AM PST by lainie
PARIS - France introduced a new terrorism alert system on Thursday, with four color-coded levels from yellow to scarlet to make the national warning plan more flexible and understandable.
Until now, France had only two grades of alert for its terror warning system, called Vigipirate: "simple" and "reinforced."
Vigipirate has been on "reinforced" alert since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and French authorities have been even more watchful since war broke out in Iraq.
France qualified the terror risk on Thursday as orange the second-lowest of four levels. The government said an attack was "plausible," there was no imminent or specific risk. The level of threat was the same as in previous days.
The orange alert grade calls for reinforced patrols in train stations and subways, a ban on flights over sensitive sites including nuclear plants, and increased surveillance of water distribution systems.
The lowest level of alert is yellow, which calls for measures including more train station patrols.
Red, the second-highest, calls for vast stretches of France's airspace to be closed and the setting aside of drinking water supplies, among other precautions.
In a scarlet alert, the civil aviation system is shut down, faucet water distribution is limited or stopped and all passengers are searched as they board trains.
TOPICS: Extended News; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: antifrenchhumor; drudge; france; greenwithenvy; terrorism
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I do not know the difference between red and scarlet, or how any French people will be able to tell. Somehow that will end up being Bush's fault, too.
1
posted on
03/27/2003 11:50:48 AM PST
by
lainie
To: lainie
Of course, they start at yellow, proceed to a darker shade of yellow, and continue right on through yellow...
2
posted on
03/27/2003 11:52:01 AM PST
by
mhking
To: lainie
I'm sure their "Red" code is Yellow.
3
posted on
03/27/2003 11:52:22 AM PST
by
bedolido
To: lainie
They established Scarlet for "I surrender!"
To: lainie
The color determines what size white flag to wave
5
posted on
03/27/2003 11:53:19 AM PST
by
grb
To: mhking
yeah, my first thought was, umm, okay, yellow to start, green when they're getting envious, white when it's time to surrender.
6
posted on
03/27/2003 11:53:30 AM PST
by
lainie
To: lainie
7
posted on
03/27/2003 11:54:02 AM PST
by
Jaxter
(Proud Republican voter since 1972.)
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
To: lainie
Yellow- surrender after breakfast
Orange - surrender after brunch
Red - surrender after lunch
Scarlet - surrender after dinner
9
posted on
03/27/2003 11:54:18 AM PST
by
Bobby777
To: lainie
The only two colors the French know these days is white & yellow.
10
posted on
03/27/2003 11:55:44 AM PST
by
kellynla
(Once a Marine...Semper Fi)
To: lainie
Four levels of French Alert (lowest to highest):
1) Read Camus
2) Curse Americans
3) Hide behind a Jew
4) Put on women's clothing and try to sneak out of town.
11
posted on
03/27/2003 11:56:29 AM PST
by
Maceman
Can someone please post the Sesame Street Alert jpg? I've been looking for it, and can't find it anymore. It's the one with (I think) Ernie, Oscar, Elmo and a couple of other characters on the color they represent.
12
posted on
03/27/2003 11:56:31 AM PST
by
vollmond
![](http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1131340.jpg)
UN baby blue does not seem to be one of the colors.
13
posted on
03/27/2003 11:56:35 AM PST
by
lainie
To: sparky samson
Yellow = Standard fair -- ignore reality.
Orange = Threat is plausible. Stock up on white cloth .
Red = Threat is elevated. Locate a "pole" in addition to white cloth.
Scarlet = Threat is immediate. Raise white flags on poles so that the aggressor will not harm you.
14
posted on
03/27/2003 11:58:01 AM PST
by
Naspino
To: lainie
Recalls the SNL skit introducing the new color code featuring white, eggshell, cream, and ivory.
To: lainie
16
posted on
03/27/2003 11:59:08 AM PST
by
sonofatpatcher2
(Love & a .45-- What more could you want, campers? };^)
To: lainie
In a scarlet alert, the civil aviation system is shut down, faucet water distribution is limited or stopped and all passengers are searched as they board trains. This alert is triggered when the cheese tray and dessert tray are brought out at the same time.
17
posted on
03/27/2003 11:59:22 AM PST
by
Cable225
To: lainie
I would think the French would be using soft shades and tints of delicate pastes in all of this years colors...Peuse, magenta and fuschia on to a somber ocher or that maybe they would use fabrics instead. We've just gone to light yellow organdy alert with leather trim.
18
posted on
03/27/2003 11:59:36 AM PST
by
Lee Heggy
("A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." Lao Tzu)
To: ctdonath2
Recalls the SNL skit introducing the new color code featuring white, eggshell, cream, and ivory.In France, it's just various shades of yellow.
To: lainie
French Alert System
Yellow - surrender, screaming like a girl, crawling and begging for mercy
Orange - offer to plant attractive flowerbeds around the yards of the occupying army's officers - occupying army officers really like that kind of thoughtful gesture
Scarlet - Play "matchmaker" for bored occupation soldiers. Introduce them to your wife, your sister, your mom; anybody to help the occupation get over the homesickness
20
posted on
03/27/2003 12:04:11 PM PST
by
IowaHawk
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