Press Conference at 2
A press conference scheduled for 2pm today is expected to be "significant." In it, Tom Ridge is expected to detail specific threats to financial institutions in NY and DC. CNN is reporting that the threat level in these cities has already been raised, while FOX is reporting that it will be raised. There is also going to be a follow-up press conference with NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg at 4pm.
Living in DC, I've grown rather immune to these "terror alert levels," and my personal opinion is that they aren't a very effective system for dealing with the ongoing terrorist threat. Just consider the fact that NYC has had their terror alert at "orange," or "High" since September 11th. Come on, even the biggest supporter of the terror alert system would have to admit that after almost 3 years at the second highest level, the "High" alert status has lost its intended significance.
The fact that this press conference is on a Sunday may indicate that the presumed threat is significant. (or it could be a strategic attempt to get the alert into a proper slot in the weekly media newscycle.) Nevertheless, whichever it is, I'll be watching.
UPDATE
OK, so Ridge says that the terror alert level has been raised for only the financial districts in NY, NJ, and DC. So, now, not only do we have separate city-by-city terror alert levels, but now we have STREET BY STREET terror alert levels. Just how are we supposed to digest information? Maybe we can get little signs on each street corner indicating what the terrorist alert level is for that particular street. Or maybe even building-by-building indicators.
Ooooh, I know, here's a great idea for Mapquest to implement:
Posted by jkhat at August 1, 2004 12:20 PM
The trackback entry for this page is : http://www.inthehat.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/284
| Trackback Entries |
Comments
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
I don't see what your problem is. On one hand it seems like you're complaining that the terror alerts have been so vague as to be meaningless. Now, when the terror alert is very specific, you're complaining that you don't know how to process it. While I think your first criticism is valid, I think today's alert is pretty damn effective and is exactly the kind of thing Homeland Security should have been doing all along. |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
you think it's "pretty damm effective," huh? how can you possibly say that until you know what the "effect" ends up being? my point is that the "color coded warnings" are retarded. it's been orange in NYC for 3 years. now it'll probably be orange in the financial districts of DC for perpetuity. the color warnings have no effect at all - sure, people will talk about them tomorrow, but no one will alter their routine. and after a few months, no one will give the "orange" level a second thought. it sounds like you feel warm and fuzzy because teh government gave you information, but you havent stopped to think about how useful that information actually is. if you subscribe to the "any info is better than no info" ideology, i think you're very wrong. imagine if where you live the tornado warning sirens sounded for 3 years straight. |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
btw, i took some pictures of these alleged "heightened security" measures at the IMF and World Bank, i'll try to get around to posting them later |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
Well, I think the color coding is more like severe thunderstorm watches in the summer, you just get used to it and ignore it. However, saying that right now, we have reason to believe that these specific buildings may be attacked, possibly with car or truck bombs is more like a tornado siren. You took pictures, huh? That's exactly one of the activities Ridge told people to look out for. It'd be almost disappointing if no one at least asked you what you were doing. In any case, just watch, you'll end up starting some rumor about how al-Qaida has now started recruiting young white males to their cause (maybe they promise them harems?). |