Terror Alert System Raised Unnecessarily?

[Spence]

The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says.

Ridge, who resigned Feb. 1, said Tuesday that he often disagreed with administration officials who wanted to elevate the threat level to orange, or "high" risk of terrorist attack, but was overruled.

His comments at a Washington forum describe spirited debates over terrorist intelligence and provide rare insight into the inner workings of the nation's homeland security apparatus.

Ridge said he wanted to "debunk the myth" that his agency was responsible for repeatedly raising the alert under a color-coded system he unveiled in 2002.

"More often than not we were the least inclined to raise it," Ridge told reporters. "Sometimes we disagreed with the intelligence assessment. Sometimes we thought even if the intelligence was good, you don't necessarily put the country on (alert). ... There were times when some people were really aggressive about raising it, and we said, 'For that?' "Source (http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-10-ridge-alerts_x.htm)

[NamVet4]

I appreciate the spirited debate, if it truly happened and is not a case of sour grapes. It raises the question:
Who has the final authority to raise the level?
Who is entrusted with the authority and responsibility?

http://hailredskins.com/vbforum/images/icons/icon5.gif

[Spence]

The level is raised if a majority on the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council favors it and President Bush concurs. Among those on the council with Ridge were Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI chief Robert Mueller, CIA director George Tenet, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

[CNYSkinFan]

The level is raised if a majority on the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council favors it and President Bush concurs. Among those on the council with Ridge were Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI chief Robert Mueller, CIA director George Tenet, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Using government apparatus for political gain? What crazy conspiracy theory are you going to come up with next? Paying off reporters to promote the Presiden't proposals such as No Child LEft Behind and the Gay Marriage amendment? Or perhaps declaring canadian drugs unsafe for no reason other then to provide a windfall for Pharmeceutical companies? Or proposing a social security fix that does nothing to solve the problem and only benefits Wall St.?

You sir are out of control with your theories...oooh wait....we did do those things.....hmmmmmmmmmm

In that case, Spence...why do you hate freedom?

[fent]

Using government apparatus for political gain? What crazy conspiracy theory are you going to come up with next? Paying off reporters to promote the Presiden't proposals such as No Child LEft Behind and the Gay Marriage amendment? Or perhaps declaring canadian drugs unsafe for no reason other then to provide a windfall for Pharmeceutical companies? Or proposing a social security fix that does nothing to solve the problem and only benefits Wall St.?

You sir are out of control with your theories...oooh wait....we did do those things.....hmmmmmmmmmm

In that case, Spence...why do you hate freedom?

almost as bad as bombing Iraq the morning you're going to be impeached...who the hell would do that?

[smoak]

How much longer are we forced to suffer under that vile Texan??? Name one good thing to ever come out of Texas!?

[RedskinsDave]

Yeah there's definitely a conspiracy there. A group of advisors agree to raise or lower the level. What a crazy thought.

[fent]

How much longer are we forced to suffer under that vile Texan??? Name one good thing to ever come out of Texas!?

ahem... :Peace:

[BurgundyNGold]

almost as bad as bombing Iraq the morning you're going to be impeached...who the hell would do that?
Or sending missiles into Sudanese pharmaceutical factory.

[smoak]

ahem... :Peace:

doh! sorry... LOL!

[danny's stogie]

Or proposing a social security fix that does nothing to solve the problem and only benefits Wall St.?



Did you read the latest Krugman op-ed? Bush gave him more ammunition now that the details of the plan are revealed.

Name one good thing to ever come out of Texas!?

Derrick Dockery :)

[Spence]

Why would Tom Ridge say stuff like this? He must hate America. And freedom, too, of course. :)

[CNYSkinFan]

almost as bad as bombing Iraq the morning you're going to be impeached...who the hell would do that?

He did it to protect George 1 and george 2 used it as part of his reason for going into IRaq as you well know.

[danny's stogie]

Yeah there's definitely a conspiracy there. A group of advisors agree to raise or lower the level. What a crazy thought.

Reread the last paragraph of Spence's quote. Ridge seems to imply as much.

[RedskinsDave]

He did it to protect George 1 and george 2 used it as part of his reason for going into IRaq as you well know.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[CNYSkinFan]

Or sending missiles into Sudanese pharmaceutical factory.

It was an intelligence failure lol

[fent]

It was an intelligence failure lol

i thought only republicans had faulty intelligence.

[RedskinsDave]

It was an intelligence failure lol

No, not under Clinton. That can't be.

[fent]

Reread the last paragraph of Spence's quote. Ridge seems to imply as much.

he does no such thing. he simply says he disagrees with the reason to raise it.

[BurgundyNGold]

Why would Tom Ridge say stuff like this? He must hate America. And freedom, too, of course. :)
I love those "They hate freedom." and "They hate the American way of life." lines. They're pretty catchy. I use them all the time, like at the supermarket. I might use it later when I go to Midas to get my brakes checked.

[BurgundyNGold]

i thought only republicans had faulty intelligence.
Could anyone show me the last time we had an intelligence success?! These guys have a worse batting average than Michael Jordan.

[fent]

I love those "They hate freedom." and "They hate the American way of life." lines. They're pretty catchy. I use them all the time, like at the supermarket. I might use it later when I go to Midas to get my brakes checked.

make sure you get your back massage

[fent]

Could anyone show me the last time we had an intelligence success?! These guys have a worse batting average than Michael Jordan.


ummm...intelligence showed us that all the bad guys were hanging out at the iraqi-syrian border and we used that to attack this weekend, but i think any 2 year old with basic language skills probably could have told you that.

[BurgundyNGold]

make sure you get your back massage
[Andrew Dice Clay voice] I didn't say I was getting my oil changed... Oh!

[BurgundyNGold]

ummm...intelligence showed us that all the bad guys were hanging out at the iraqi-syrian border and we used that to attack this weekend, but i think any 2 year old with basic language skills probably could have told you that.
Syria... and terrorists? Hmmm. Let me see. Nope, not plausible.