Rhodan

Ridge reveals clashes on alerts

By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — 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 ...

"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?' "

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...-alerts_x.htm#

troung

Of course. So they could say they warned us in case something happened

Bluesman

Well, Rhodan, that was as poor a spin as any you've ever attempted here, troll-boy.

That's all you got? You'e not even going to allege some kind of crime, just what you conceive as a CYA move by Washington bureaucrats? Even if it's exactly as you color it, not exactly shocking stuff, now is it?

Underwhelming, and pretty much relegates you to the rear ranks of rolling-eyed agitators and spittle-flecked conspiracy buffs.

Off you go, little one.

__________________
"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it, and if one finds the prospect of a long war intolerable, it is natural to disbelieve in the possibility of victory."
- George Orwell

Rhodan

Lol, you're funny 8)

Bluesman

Thanks.

Bluesman

You actually understood all the big words, then?

Rhodan

Here's a set of realplayer movies for you. Its a documentary series from the BBC. Might give people some insight into why the administration would overrule their own hand picked Homeland Security boss when it comes to terror alerts.

The Power of Nightmares I - Baby its cold outside
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/video1037.htm

The Power of Nightmares II - The Phantom Victory
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/video1038.htm

The Power of Nightmares III - The Shadow in the Cave
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/video1040.htm

Bluesman

The Beeb. You're sourcing to the BBC, is that right?

You are SO past help.

Anon

Ah yes, the socialist controlled state media BBC.

The true voice of impartiality.....ermmmm.

ZFBoxcar

I don't really know about or feel like commenting on the main issue here, but if the BBC is "socialist controlled state media" and the "state" in question happens to be the US's most important ally and a very active participant in Iraq and in the WoT in general, wouldn't the BBC be promoting American and British interests?

Bluesman

If they were loyal they would.

Confed999

If in doubt, warn. That's the only way to do it and avoid the "why didn't they warn us?" people. (Which is what this thread would be about otherwise.)

__________________
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry

Bluesman

Absolutely right.

barrowaj

Well the UK isn't a socialist state, and if the BBC isn't loyal to the UK, then they surely can't be socialist state controled, as Snipe said.

Watch the videos, they are good.

One of the benefits in being educated is that you can tolerate and interpret other points of view. I guess public education isn't what its cracked up to be.

Confed999

A socialist kicking a socialist policy?