Posted on 04/20/2011 9:06:45 AM PDT by matt1234
Implicity, yes. Explicity, no. Therein lies one of the multiple problems with the new system.
how much did this cost?
And they tell me they can’t cut down on Federal employees? How many worked how long to come up with this BS?
Put On The Damn Helmet.
LOL! Beat me to it!
Government concerns regarding the new system were numerous. The one of most concern however was that a binary response to any event could sooner or later trigger a similar pattern in understanding. At some point the public would begin to expect yes or no answers to any question and that could not be allowed to happen.
1. Pucker up your lips
2. Kiss your ass goodbye
First, it appears there are three levels, since it says the two levels will only be “relayed” in “certain circumstances”, which suggest there is a level where they are not communicating a level.
Second, most states and localities, and many businesses, have spent big bucks putting together emergency action and security plans that are based on the 5 levels. They will all have to re-do their plans for the new levels.
Of course, since we were NEVER going to get to blue or green, I guess it doesn’t really matter. What politicians wants first to say that there is no more threat and then have something happen; and what terror expert wants to argue that there is no more threat, and put all those terror alert personnell out of work.
"Mr. Sulu, go to grey alert."
If that’s the case, I then propose:
Terrorist Threat Level Bacon - No threat.
Terrorist Threat Level Canadian Bacon - Mild threat.
Terrorist Threat Level Pork Chops - Moderate Threat.
Terrorist Threat Level Pig Roast - High Threat.
(nicked from somewhere on the ‘net, LOVE Scotland’s levels :) )...
How different nations set their security threat alert status
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.”
The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was in 1588 when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards”. They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France ‘s white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country’s military capability. Indeed it’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”
The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose”.
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.
And in the southern hemisphere...
New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from “baaa” to “BAAAA!”. Due to continuing defence cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is “I hope Australia will come and rescue us”.
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be right, mate”. Three more escalation levels remain: “Crikey!’, “I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend” and “The barbie is cancelled”. So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
I know that, as a doctor, I always diagnose my patients as either, 1. Healthy, or 2. Unhealthy. My ability to make those sort of fine distinctions is why they pay me the big bucks.
There is no “low threat” or “minimal threat” setting. We’re either always elevated or imminent. Elevated will come to mean nothing because that’s what it will always be at, except for the brief times it could be at ‘imminent’.
Idiots rule.
Doesn’t make a lick of sense. As many have said, there is no normal, or no known threat condition. And it would seem that “ongoing attack” would also deserve its own category under any system.
On a side note- Al Qaeda must think we are stupid. They spend $4000 for a bomb scare, and we (in typical knee-jerk reaction) spend millions.
Very creative . . . I like the system!!!
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