Tom Ridge admit alerts heightened based on flimsy evidence

[inthebrain]

Ridge reveals clashes on alerts
Posted 5/10/2005 11:21 PM
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 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?' "

Revising or scrapping the color-coded alert system is under review by new Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff. Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said "improvements and adjustments" may be announced within the next few months.

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DU RULES.

[Beelzebud]

1. I say the true tin-foil hatters are the ones that still believe the lies..

Wake up people. You're being lied to.

This latest terror plot is a fucking LIE.

[inthebrain]

2. I don't know for certain if the plot is a lie

I do question why they chose the day after Mehlman and Rove issued a slew of talking points to go after these guys. This was supposed to have been known about for months and these guys didnt plan to strike yesterday. It is that they they were "believed to have been planning a dry run".

Then there was Romney, Pataki and Swartzeneggar scrambling the guard. Three states where there are elections for governor coming up.

[inthebrain]

3. Bump

[inthebrain]

4. Bump

[lutefisk]

5. So was it Rove or Cheney who decided when to raise the level?

There is no way "the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council" met, discussed, and came to a consensus regarding raising the threat levels. That is not how this administration works.

Come on and tell us what the process really was- it's not like we'll trust you any less if you tell us.

[inthebrain]

6. I have no clue

Ridge seems to hint that it's out of the DHS directors hands.