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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 07:57:11 AM

Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 07:57:11 AM: Is that the stupidest concept ever conceived? I mean come on...the Gov't even said that they may not even tell the public when it gets elevated as to not tip off potential terrorists.

I am sure it created a few more thousand worthless Gov't jobs.

Finally Daschel and I agree on something, ITS STUPID!
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: straffo on March 13, 2002, 08:00:58 AM: Is it something like Defcon status ?

Can you point me on an article about that ?
(yet anothe post passing right over my head :()
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 08:03:41 AM: Here ya go Straffo, similiar in concept to Defcon, but for civilian distribution.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16830-2002Mar12.html
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Mickey1992 on March 13, 2002, 08:10:46 AM: I agree that it is a total waste of resources. I just shudder to think of how much money was spent researching what colors to use and how to "market" this whole idea.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Eagler on March 13, 2002, 08:27:02 AM: it's some form of Federal Gov CYA

they should just say,

"Shite can happen:

Anywhere
Anytime
Anyway

Learn to live with it

Please Live everyday as it is ur last, as it very well could be"

:)
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: straffo on March 13, 2002, 08:35:51 AM: I don't believe it will work ...

If there is a severe risk what can an average citizen do ?

stay at home ... and let the terroriste win ?

go out ... and have the risk to be injured or worst killed ?

It will more increase the feeling of insecurity in your country with all the internal risk it add (do you remind of this poor "sihk" (spelling?) who was killed after the WTC attack ?)

And evaluating terrorism risk is not an exact science .
Ask the Isrealy they are pretty good at anti-terrorism and they fail daily :(
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Sikboy on March 13, 2002, 08:39:35 AM: I think it's like the "Duck and Cover" campaign in the 50's. The Government is just trying to placate a scarred public. Lets face it, getting under your desk in a nuclear attack is just going to mean you're uncomfortable when you get vaporized (ok, there are variables blah blah blah, but getting under your desk isn't going to change those variables by a significant rate). I bet my sister feels safer with this in place, even if it is pretty useless in real life.

-Sikboy
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: straffo on March 13, 2002, 08:39:48 AM: Fek it's difficult to not being a native english speaker :)

It took me about 10 minutes to wrote in a not so good (read gibberish :)) English ...
just to read my tough expressed so simply and clearly by Eagler
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 08:47:34 AM: You do fine Straffo!

ANyone out there think its a good plan? Anyone?
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Sandman on March 13, 2002, 08:48:55 AM: It's got to be better than the system that they had in place two months ago. The whole, high, higher, highest, highest+, extremely high, maximum threat conditions that were bantered about by the media with no clear definition of what the differences were simply made no sense.

When a reporter down in LA County asked a sheriff's deputy what steps they had taken during one of "highest alerts," the sheriff answered, "Not a thing. We are _already_ at our highest alert. There are no additional measures being taken, no additional people assigned, nothing." IMHO, there's something wrong with the system if this is the posture.

Until now, I considered Ridge's office to be a complete waste of time but maybe it can offer focus and clarity. This is a step in that direction.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 09:00:39 AM: Step in the right direction? How about tightening up the borders? (http://www.ebnews.com/story/OEG20011130S0082)... Re-vamp the INS? (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20020313_176.html) THAT'S where we need to step, not some play skool color coded chart telling us when we should be REALLY paranoid.:rolleyes:
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: straffo on March 13, 2002, 09:03:52 AM: in France we have just 2 levels :

Normal

Vigipirate :
Army patrol in airport ,embassy (especially US/UK ones ) strategic asset ,schools ,Hopitals
Increased protection of nuclear power plant
and so on ...
But the cost is HUGE !

And it's impossible to be protected against terrorist who are ready to lost their lives :(
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Sandman on March 13, 2002, 09:14:10 AM: You expected Ridge's office to actually DO something?

The purpose of the Office of Homeland Security is to develop strategy and to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts and they get to do this with no authority and very limited funding.

Ridge is a consultant.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 09:30:40 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Sandman_SBM
You expected Ridge's office to actually DO something?

The purpose of the Office of Homeland Security is to develop strategy and to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts and they get to do this with no authority and very limited funding.

Ridge is a consultant.

Good point. Most Gov't funded programs just tax us into oppression with no reasonable results!
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Sandman on March 13, 2002, 09:41:45 AM: You'll have to take that up with Dubya. He created the office.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Mighty1 on March 13, 2002, 09:50:58 AM: Don't know if it will work or not but they had to do something to try and calm the masses.

I'm not sure anything they do will be effective. I mean how do you warn the people without warning the bad guys?
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Swoop on March 13, 2002, 09:51:27 AM: In Britain we have 3 levels:

1) Dont know about it.

2) Dont give a crap about it.

3) What was that loud bang?

(http://www.swoop.com/images/logo_small.jpg)
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 10:14:31 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Swoop
In Britain we have 3 levels:

1) Dont know about it.

2) Dont give a crap about it.

3) What was that loud bang?

(http://www.swoop.com/images/logo_small.jpg)

LOL! So after #3, you just continue back at the beginning then?
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 10:42:04 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Mighty1
Don't know if it will work or not but they had to do something to try and calm the masses.

Again, I think money would be best spent to calm the masses by actually doing something about tightening up the borders (http://www.ebnews.com/story/OEG20011130S0082) or Re-vamping the INS (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20020313_176.html).
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Fatty on March 13, 2002, 11:01:41 AM: I'm not particularly impressed, mostly because I could care less. I don't have a problem with their being able to rate threats when giving warnings though. Why exactly is that a problem, even if they don't end up using it most of the time?
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Sandman on March 13, 2002, 11:57:49 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort

Again, I think money would be best spent to calm the masses by actually doing something about tightening up the borders (http://www.ebnews.com/story/OEG20011130S0082) or Re-vamping the INS (http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20020313_176.html).

So... the school wasn't notified of the change in a timely fashion and the information was still in the pipeline six months after Atta and Al-Shehhi died during the attacks.

Sounds like a bureaucratic problem to me.

Not sure how this would have changed anything. AFAIK, Atta was not identified as a known terrorist. He didn't fit the "profile" until after the attacks. This is the reason to be spooked. There are probably dozens (if not hundreds) of people in this country who have no terrorist record but are working against the U.S. So... how do we screen them out? Racial profiling? How about religious profiling?

Boys and girls, freedom comes at a price. The price is living amongst people that just might be plotting to hurt you. You want to be safe? Move somewhere else. Given the choice between freedom and security, I'll take the former.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 12:01:32 PM: Aye, Sandman, I'll take freedom too.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: miko2d on March 13, 2002, 12:07:28 PM: You guys are so gullible...

miko
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 12:11:14 PM: Quote
Originally posted by miko2d
You guys are so gullible.

miko

True, I once voted for Anderson, a 3rd party candidate, in 1980.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: miko2d on March 13, 2002, 12:20:46 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort

miko: You guys are so gullible.

True, I once voted for Anderson, a 3rd party candidate, in 1980.

Since you've brought it up, I voted for Ross Perot once.

I could have sworn there was request to elaborate before I hit "refresh" button... Rip, did you by any chance edit this post? I do not see "Last edited by..." line in my browser. Am I going crazy or what? :)

miko
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Ripsnort on March 13, 2002, 12:22:28 PM: I started to type out "Elaborate" best desribes me..complicated, you know? ;)
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Jebo44 on March 13, 2002, 12:46:46 PM: This is for terrorist activity threats??? Looks more like a Smokey the Bear sign outside of Lincoln National Park that tells you whether or not to start a camp fire.

And this will not be available to the general public??? I know if the stuff is going to hit the fan then you are gonna be where you are, but no warning to the public at all??? That makes no sense.

P.S.

Ridges office is a cover!!! I could be killed for telling you people this ....BUT THE PUBLIC MUST KNOW!!!!! The "Office of Homeland Security" is a front for ............................. ........................ the "Omega Sector" {Now hiring MIB personnel} I must go now ..... remember what you have been told. Get away from me you govbot. Agent Tasker get away!!!!!!!! :p
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: easymo on March 13, 2002, 12:52:09 PM: We had 2 colors in the Army. Sarge would tell us when it was yellow. And the VC would let us know when it was red. Worked OK
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Hawg on March 13, 2002, 04:51:22 PM: DDDDDDDDDDDDUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM MMMMMMMBBBBBBBBB
Only thing I can come up with.
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: AKSWulfe on March 13, 2002, 05:00:39 PM: So, how does it work?

I mean, are certain colors a certain attack? Or are they going to just place us on medium to high alert for the next several years?

And how does it get to the people? Is it on the morning news where they have some n00b editorialist fresh from journalism school come onto camera with a big dumb grin on their face and read off "Today we are under a Fuschia warning"?

And is it based by locale or is it simply a nationwide thing?

If it's nationwide, it's between useless and completely worthless. If it's based on locale, then it's a little better.... but still not much because I'm on perma-high-alert anyway. Telling me what the color of the day warning is don't help me much.
-SW
Title: Let's talk about the new Homeland Security color coding threat level bar
Post by: Wlfgng on March 13, 2002, 05:37:28 PM: it's a stupid-ass idea!

just think about it...

it used to be that the 'alerts' came in the form of text messages..I.E.. 'this is the threat'... no need for translation.

now you have the colors.. ok.. cross-reference the colors..
uh.. where'd that Index go?

"no .. yellow means blah blah.. "
"I thought yellow was blah blah..."
"no no no.. it's blah blah"

yeah.. great idea. lol

------------------------

and before you say it.. yeah. It's easy to remember what color is for which severity.. but the details...