Terror Alert

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » February 7, 2003, 3:02 pm

What exactly is the point of this Terror alert thing in the US? Besides trying to scare the population that is. What procedures change or go in action when this threat level changes?

Also, just curious but aren't the departments of defence and homeland security redundant?

miir · Post by **miir** » February 7, 2003, 3:04 pm

It scares people into thinking there is an imminent danger of a terrorist/Iraq attack.... that way Bush can garner more public support for his crusades in the middle east.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · February 7, 2003, 3:07 pm

miir wrote:It scares people into thinking there is an imminent danger of a terrorist/Iraq attack.... that way Bush can garner more public support for his crusades in the middle east.

I'd have to agree there.

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » February 7, 2003, 3:09 pm

Forthe wrote:Also, just curious but aren't the departments of defence and homeland security redundant?

Not really. Department of defense is more military and homeland security is more civilian sector I believe.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » February 7, 2003, 3:12 pm

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 312-5.html

High Condition (Orange). A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the Protective Measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the agency-specific Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:
1. Coordinating necessary security efforts with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies or any National Guard or other appropriate armed forces organizations;
2. Taking additional precautions at public events and possibly considering alternative venues or even cancellation;
3. Preparing to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing their workforce; and
4. Restricting threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

Thank goodness they are coordinating necessary security efforts! I feel the exact same sense of safety that I did yesterday, and every other day.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » February 7, 2003, 3:16 pm

The heightened alert status just tells local agencies to make sure they have their procedures and lines of communications straight in the case of an incident.

Sort of like your employer reviewing evacuation plans for your building.

Until they run it up to red, all it really means is keep your eyes and ears open and make sure your people know who to call and when.

Department of Defense is a millitary organization. In the U.S. the millitary does not usually operate domestically. There are a few exceptions, but that's the general rule.

Homeland security was put together to take on the task of getting local law enforcement, fire, etc in touch and organized with other concerned groups such as county disaster planning, hospitals and so on.

The two have very different tasks.

Acies · Post by **Acies** » February 7, 2003, 3:17 pm

Sirensa wrote: Thank goodness they are coordinating necessary security efforts! I feel the exact same sense of safety that I did yesterday, and every other day.

Heh, anyone ever feel like trying to get a straight answer from the government is like being a hampster on those exersize wheels?

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 7, 2003, 3:17 pm

I liked the skit they did on SNL where they unveiled the Terrorist Attack Warning system, and the colors were like White, Off White, Taupe, Cream, and Beige, hehe.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 7, 2003, 3:31 pm

It's we in America like to call "a false sense of security".

Brotha · Post by **Brotha** » February 7, 2003, 3:32 pm

First everyone complains that the gov. didn't give a warning of terrorism for 911. And now that they are, people are angry about it? Make up your fucking mind.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » February 7, 2003, 3:37 pm

Brotha wrote:First everyone complains that the gov. didn't give a warning of terrorism for 911. And now that they are, people are angry about it? Make up your fucking mind.

Should I assume you don't have an answer either?

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 7, 2003, 3:40 pm

I assume the people that complaned are happy that it exists and the people that realize how impractical and silly the color warning system is will point that out at every given opportunity. No one seems to have changed their mind on anything what-so-ever.

Planes crashing into the world trade center would've put us at red alert, but wouldn't have stopped shit. The color alert system is a placebo.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » February 7, 2003, 4:04 pm

I guess if you dont live here it shouldnt matter. There just pretty little colors we like to flash.

Pilsburry · Post by **Pilsburry** » February 7, 2003, 4:09 pm

Ya, airport people are confiscating all sorts of stupid crap like nail files...but the truth is I could kill someone easier with a pencil or my bare hands.

They just do that shit to make peoples grandma's happy.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 7, 2003, 4:11 pm

i think they are funding this war by collectin women's eyebrow tweezers and selling them to those hairy bitches in 3rd world countries for the equivalent of 4 years salary.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » February 7, 2003, 4:41 pm

What the threat levels are for is to alert people to the chance of an actual attack of some sort by terrorists. When they raise the threat level, it is directly tied to "chatter" by terrorist cells that they are monitoring or by information from informants or captured members of the organizations. Apparently, they have found some evidence that al Queida cells have plans to target hotels and apartment buildings where security would not be very high.

I would not be sticking this directly into the U.S. public's lap, as there have been several arrests made in France, Spain, and Italy regarding plans to attack those countries with chemical agents. Cyanide was just one of the fun chemicals specifically mentioned that was captured. This is not just a U.S. problem people. As these nutcases find more security here, they will be targetting easier to hit spots...and some of them just may be where you live.

Brotha · Post by **Brotha** » February 7, 2003, 5:04 pm

Should I assume you don't have an answer either?

No, but you can assume your question has already been answered and me answering it again would just be redundant. I'm not suprised you're not getting it though. The fact that you even have to ask why the gov. alerting the public and federal agencies to a higher threat of terrorism is a helpful thing shows how clueless you are.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 7, 2003, 5:23 pm

The fact that you even have to ask why the gov. alerting the public and federal agencies to a higher threat of terrorism is a helpful thing shows how clueless you are.

Only it's not just those particular agencies that are getting the suppossed warnings. It's the entire USA and the rest of the world as well. It's not neccessary and only works to instill constant fear and worry into the general population. All this for what? So Joe Blow can grab his .22 and help defend the local nuclear power plant?

I lean towards the government wanting to ease the populace of it's constant fear by stopping it at it's source: IRAQ! (well, today's source) I definately feel it is a propaganda tool based on how it is being utilized.

Vetiria · Post by **Vetiria** » February 7, 2003, 5:28 pm

Fairweather Pure wrote:It's not neccessary and only works to instill constant fear and worry into the general population.

Well, you could also say that it puts fear into any terrorist that is going to attempt an attack. If they know they're being watched it's not going to happen.

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » February 7, 2003, 5:35 pm

Xouqoa wrote:I liked the skit they did on SNL where they unveiled the Terrorist Attack Warning system, and the colors were like White, Off White, Taupe, Cream, and Beige, hehe.

did you see the thing the Daily Show did? They had the Gay Color System when the military kicked out 2 arabic translators when they found they were gay. "This puts us currently at Code Fushia. you dont wanna know what happens when we go rainbow"

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » February 7, 2003, 5:37 pm

Of course in lieu of adding any extra holes into anyone wearing a rag on their head, the average citizen *could* just keep an eye out for anything that might be labeled as suspicious or abnormal activity. If it was not for people watching closely for things like this, Richard Reid (aka the shoe bomber) would have completed the task he set out to do.

I think I would rather inconvenience someone than deal with the aftermath of an incident that would cost hundreds of lives. But then, most of you are argumentative imbeciles who would rather bitch about someone's right to not be inconvenienced over other citizen's rights to live.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » February 7, 2003, 5:39 pm

Well, you could also say that it puts fear into any terrorist that is going to attempt an attack. If they know they're being watched it's not going to happen.

I'm quite certian that Bush's "Orange Warning" wouldn't scare a suicidal terrorist with 30 lbs. of C4 strapped to his chest in any way, shape, or form. You never know though

Brotha · Post by **Brotha** » February 7, 2003, 5:40 pm

Only it's not just those particular agencies that are getting the suppossed warnings. It's the entire USA and the rest of the world as well. It's not neccessary and only works to instill constant fear and worry into the general population. All this for what? So Joe Blow can grab his .22 and help defend the local nuclear power plant?

I lean towards the government wanting to ease the populace of it's constant fear by stopping it at it's source: IRAQ! (well, today's source) I definately feel it is a propaganda tool based on how it is being utilized.

I was referring to the general public also, not just agencies.

What if the passengers on the planes and at the airports on 911 had known there was a greater chance of terrorism and been more aware?

What if the emergency crews in NYC had been aware?

Airport security?

What if people everywhere had been more watchful?

I could go on and on but you get the point.

This isn't any sort of propoganda: it's a genuine effort to save American lives, which is something I for one support.

About the rest of the world: Ashcroft/Ridge were clear in that the threat was to Americans around the world, not just in the US.

Also, /agree Vetiria and Kilmoll.

EDIT:

I'm quite certian that Bush's "Orange Warning" wouldn't scare a suicidal terrorist with 30 lbs. of C4 strapped to his chest in any way, shape, or form. You never know though

They aren't scared of being caught, they're scared of giving their lives meanginglessly (meaninglessly in their minds that is, I think it would be meaningless regardless).

Midnyte_Ragebringer · February 7, 2003, 5:43 pm

Acies wrote:
Sirensa wrote: Thank goodness they are coordinating necessary security efforts! I feel the exact same sense of safety that I did yesterday, and every other day.
Heh, anyone ever feel like trying to get a straight answer from the government is like being a hampster on those exersize wheels?

Try getting a straight answer from anyone.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » February 7, 2003, 6:09 pm

Use of this color warning system, especially the way it is sensationalized, is bound to suffer a cry wolf effect.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » February 7, 2003, 6:37 pm

That's true to an extent, Forthe.

I can tell you that the law enforcement community, at least in my area, ignores anything below orange.

Some good points here though. If the color system makes people more apt to pay attention to what is going on around them, it's a very good thing.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » February 7, 2003, 7:58 pm

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, neither in Russia, nor England, nor for that matter Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is leaders of the country who determine the policy; and it is always a simple matter to drag people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same
in every country."" --Hermann Goering at the 1946 Nuremburg Trials

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » February 7, 2003, 8:20 pm

Brotha wrote:First everyone complains that the gov. didn't give a warning of terrorism for 911. And now that they are, people are angry about it? Make up your fucking mind.

Yeah the government announcing every second day that there's "a high probability of a terrorist attack someday soon somewhere in the US" is a really effective warning system.

And somewhere in a cave someplace Osama bin Laden is laughing his fucking ass off at your entire country. He's got half of you in such a prepetual state of fear that it's not even funny. He spanked your ecnomy and practically killed the airline industry and your government is all running around screaming "IT'S ORANGE! ORANGE! ORANGE ALERT! RUN YOU FOOLS RUN!" You are allowing him to do this.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 7, 2003, 8:34 pm

kyoukan type-R wrote:
And somewhere in a cave someplace Osama bin Laden is laughing his fucking ass off at your entire country. He's got half of you in such a prepetual state of fear that it's not even funny. He spanked your ecnomy and practically killed the airline industry and your government is all running around screaming "IT'S ORANGE! ORANGE! ORANGE ALERT! RUN YOU FOOLS RUN!" You are allowing him to do this.

Yeah, we're all scared to death. You can mock our government for giving it's citizens the option of being cautious due to some possible intelligence info while most of the country goes about their day to day lives as usual.

I won't change anything that I do but I think it's obvious why the alert has been raised as a strike on Iraq is within days of becoming a reality.

Brotha · Post by **Brotha** » February 7, 2003, 8:44 pm

Yeah the government announcing every second day that there's "a high probability of a terrorist attack someday soon somewhere in the US" is a really effective warning system.

Yeah, seeing as this is only the second time to my knowledge the entire nation has ever been on orange alert.

And somewhere in a cave someplace Osama bin Laden is laughing his fucking ass off at your entire country. He's got half of you in such a prepetual state of fear that it's not even funny. He spanked your ecnomy and practically killed the airline industry and your government is all running around screaming "IT'S ORANGE! ORANGE! ORANGE ALERT! RUN YOU FOOLS RUN!" You are allowing him to do this.

This isn't a nation of fear, I don't see anyone running around scared. I bet you're right, Osama is laughing in a cave somewhere, it must be hilarious to have to hide and live in fear every second of every day.

Neziroth · Post by **Neziroth** » February 7, 2003, 11:47 pm

actually i bet osama is dead, but that's another argument for another time

And for the condition orange or whatever, it's been covered here already:
1.) Bush's push for war in iraq
2.) So they can say "we warned you" when it happens and not get told that they're not doing jack shit again.

VeeshanVault

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