CIA's Acting Chief Says Threat Highest Since 9/11

[quade 4]

http://news.myway.com/top/article/id/387144|top|07-13-2004::20:47|reuters.html

Side note . . .

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McLaughlin said he did not know what plans the White House had for permanently filling the CIA director post.

"At this point about all I can tell you is they have asked me to be the acting director," he said. "I'm happy to do this and if they choose someone else, I'll work with that person to get them established and launched."

Actually -- two points . . .

What would be wrong with just keeping him?

And . . . (the joke) . . . he's the acting director of the CIA . . . you'd think he'd be able to find out.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[newsstand 0]

So if things are so bad why hasn't the color code changed?

"Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes

[lawrocket 3]

Hmmm. Since 9/11 a.m., or 9/11 p.m.?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[tunaplanet 0]

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So if things are so bad why hasn't the color code changed?

Who cares about a color? The specifics and warnings are all that metters.

Forty-two

[quade 4]

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Who cares about a color? The specifics and warnings are all that metters.

You're right, for you and me as individuals it probably doesn't make one rat's ass worth of difference.

However, some cities, states and businesses have specific bump-ups in their security forces and policies based on the color codes.

By not bumping up the color code, extra money is not spent on security, yet if there really is an increase in threat level -- shouldn't more money be spent?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[rehmwa 2]

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yet if there really is an increase in threat level -- shouldn't more money be spent?

Actually, if you stored quarters in a sock and hit the terrorists with it, you can reuse it for some time before the quarters go flying. Much more cost effective than just whipping individual quarters at their eyes.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[quade 4]

We're not talking about quarters here. We're talking about millions of dollars in additional labor each time the color coded threat level goes up. From my observations at a large company, I would think he gets quite a bit of push back from them because of the money issues involved with raising the color threat level.

Hey, let's just face it -- that whole system is incredibly flawed.

http://www.pscommllc.com/news/hill_john_oped.html

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

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that whole system is incredibly flawed.

Yeah. How dare them give us warning that thousands of americans may perish in a terrorist attack. Horrible system.

Forty-two

[quade 4]

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Yeah. How dare them give us warning that thousands of americans may perish in a terrorist attack. Horrible system.

Ok, let's go with that . . .

Look at the five levels and tell me if you can seriously imagine a time where the entire United States will ever be either totally "green" or totally "red".

And that's just one of many, many basic flaws.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

Ok. Green is fairly simple. That isn't hard to imagine. Simply put, nothing on the boards of the NSA, DIA, CIA, FBI and military intel.

Red? That one is tricky. With my military background I could toss you a few hypothetical scenarios. Here's one.

Acting on an intel report, SEAL Team 8 raids a house in Afghanistan. They detain 3 tangos. During a physical interrogation one of the tangos says Al Queda has 2 men in New York with a suitcase nuke that is 22 x 12 x 6 inches. The men have been in NY for 2 weeks and plan on detonating it in 8 hours. The other two men being interrogated seperately states the same thing. Documents obtained in the house show supporting evidence after being de-crypted.

Something of this nature would, in my opinon, qualify a red status.

Forty-two

[tunaplanet 0]

Oh, and for those who aren't sure exactly of the 5 levels that me and Quade are referring to...here they are.


Five Levels Of Terrorism Alert System
The five levels of terrorism alerts outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, as well as recommended government and private-sector responses:


HOMELAND SECURITY
Below is the color scheme for the Homeland Security Advisory System.



GREEN: (Low risk of terrorist attacks.)
Refine and exercise planned protective measures.
Ensure emergency personnel receive training.
Assess facilities for vulnerabilities and take measures to reduce them.

BLUE: (Guarded condition. General risk of terrorist attacks.)
Check communications with designated emergency response or command locations.
Review and update emergency response procedures.
Provide the public with necessary information.

YELLOW: (Elevated condition. Significant risk of terrorist attacks.)
Increase surveillance of critical locations.
Coordinate emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions.
Assess further refinement of protective measures within the context of the current threat information.
Implement, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.


ORANGE: (High risk of terrorist attacks.)
Coordinate necessary security efforts with armed forces or law enforcement agencies.
Take additional precaution at public events.
Prepare to work at an alternate site or with a dispersed work force.
Restrict access to essential personnel only.

RED: (Severe risk of terrorist attacks.)
Assign emergency response personnel and preposition specially trained teams.
Monitor, redirect or constrain transportation systems.
Close public and government facilities.
Increase or redirect personnel to address critical emergency needs.

Forty-two

[quade 4]

Ok, and exactly how would that justify adding one additional deputy to the sherrif's office in Clear Lake, Iowa?

See what I mean?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[quade 4]

Please note that even this list of levels is flawed.

They have the lowest level at the top and the highest level at the bottom.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

I'm going by the description of Red Status from the post I made above describing them. Red is the most extreme situation. The scenario I posted is an extreme scenario. Everything listed under the Red Status in my opinion would be suited for the scenario I gave.

Forty-two

[tunaplanet 0]

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They have the lowest level at the top and the highest level at the bottom.

LOL. Pretty funny.

Forty-two

[tunaplanet 0]

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Ok, and exactly how would that justify adding one additional deputy to the sherrif's office in Clear Lake, Iowa?

That is silly but it certainly doesn't hurt.

You asked me to give you a scenario that would justify a Red Status. I believe what I gave you justifies as one. As far as what they do about it is another story.

Forty-two

[quade 4]

However, that's my entire point.

The enitre country gets assigned ONE threat level. That's simply ludicrous.

It's a completely flawed system.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

It's not completely flawed. It has some loose bolts. For the most part it's very good.

Forty-two

[PhreeZone 20]

If we go to Orange alert, at work we bring in 4 additional security officers per facitly (22 facilities nationwide) to do laptop case/purse searches. In addition to that hand metal dectector wands are implemented also. All of this is from a temp agency that charges a nice premium for them to be there. The guys in accounting flipped the last time the Orange alert was up for so long.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[tunaplanet 0]

As silly as some people may think having these guys stand there that may be inexperienced...it is better than nothing.

Me and Quade apparantly disagree on wether the system is overall good or not. I feel it is good in general. Quade feels it is pretty much useless.

Who knows.

Forty-two

[billvon 3,120]

>CIA's Acting Chief Says Threat Highest Since 9/11 by quade

Not to worry! Bush himself made a speech a few days ago in which he told the US that we are safer now after invading Iraq. And who are you going to believe, anyway? The head of the CIA, or a guy who uses the information they provide?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/13/1089694344659.html?oneclick=true

[Gravitymaster 0]

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We're not talking about quarters here. We're talking about millions of dollars in additional labor each time the color coded threat level goes up. From my observations at a large company, I would think he gets quite a bit of push back from them because of the money issues involved with raising the color threat level.

Hey, let's just face it -- that whole system is incredibly flawed.

http://www.pscommllc.com/news/hill_john_oped.html

I have to agree with you here Quade. In fact, I think we should forget about increased security for the DNC Convention in Boston. Predictions are it will cost in excess of $146 million. That money could be better spent on health care.

[tkhayes 348]

given the recent dilvusion of the CIA's pre-war intelligence, I do not put much weight into ANY of the so-called threats. I think they just like to keep us scared so we will do anything they say.

More fear? More $$ for big corporations that ultimately get to raise prices and tighten security. All-in-all I am completely convinced that this is more and more about money and power, not about terrorism.

Will we ever see green again? I doubt it. Have we had a terrorist attack since 9/11? No,

TK

[rehmwa 2]

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Me and Quade apparantly disagree on wether the system is overall good or not. I feel it is good in general. Quade feels it is pretty much useless.

Not at all, Quade is using the time honored discussion where he sees a specific flaw he doesn't like and thus call the entire system 'useless'. This is used way too much in politics - arguing lack of absolute perfection in real world scenarios.

As far as a single code for the country - it's a 'general' system - get over it, that's the intent. I'm sure that New York will get more attention than Clear Lake due to the specific intelligence, also the rest of the country -should- be on higher alert since 9/11 showed that multiple and coordinated attacks are in the capability of the terrorists - so if you know of the nuke in New York, you must assume other things will happen elsewhere. If you don't and fail, then the whole "we didn't do EVERYTHING we could have done" and the "what did we know and when did we know it" rhetoric will fly.

Goofy - Personally I don't like the concept, it's a show for the masses rather than an effective communication agent, but the concept is still workable and something was done. And I also think that Green should come between Blue and Yellow, what's with that? It passes the science and the art common sense test - 'green is for go' is really stupid and arbitrary.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants