Posted on 05/17/2002 5:56:58 PM PDT by cgk
Dem senators lambaste vague terrorism warning
Senate Democrats criticized the Bush administration Tuesday for its warning that another terrorist attack could come in the next week, without giving any specifics.
“As if we’re not on high alert already,” Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said after Director of the Office of Homeland Security Tom Ridge briefed Senate Democrats. “It provokes its own level of panic.”
On Monday, Attorney General John Ashcroft cited “credible” information to indicate there would be new terrorist attacks within the United States or abroad in the next week. But he said he could not identify specific targets or the type of attacks.
Dodd said many of his colleagues questioned Ashcroft’s action. “What the hell are you saying this for? We all know this is a pretty precarious time.”
Sen. Richard Durbin (Ill.) said the Democratic Caucus wants to be as cautious as the administration but wondered whether that kind of vague warning would only “create more fear and anxiety.”
“I think we have to caution the administration to be careful,” Durbin said. “They can only do this so many times before they lose their credibility.”
He said he’s been peppered with questions from constituents who wanted to know what precautions to take, but all he could tell them was to go on with their lives while remaining vigilant.
“When these warnings are given, the people we represent don’t know what to do,” Durbin said.
Republicans were much less critical of Ridge when he briefed their caucus, with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) describing their reception of Ridge as “cordial, loving, affectionate.”
Speaking to reporters after the lunches, Ridge admitted that senators of both parties had cautioned him against repeated warnings of new terrorist attacks, which they compared to the “little boy who cried wolf” example.
Ridge said the administration was walking a tightrope on what information to release to the public, but said, “It is very important, I think, at this juncture to continue to raise the level of awareness.”
If even one security guard at a shopping mall pays extra attention to a suspicious package because of the warning, Ridge said, the warning would be justified.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) was less critical, saying the administration was in a “very understandable dilemma.”
To avoid leaks or misunderstandings, Daschle said, the administration made a choice that had “some downsides.” But he added, “Under these circumstances I really don’t know that they could have made any other choice.”
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said he was ambivalent about the warning. “It serves a purpose and I’m not really quarreling about it. It serves a notice to the terrorists. On the other hand, it’s frustrating not to know why we’re on alert. You can only do that so many times before people become rather blasé about it.”
Democrats have also complained that the administration has given out conflicting information about the terrorist attacks since Sept. 11.
Dodd said Democrats expressed the desire for Ridge to coordinate the various agencies on counterterrorism but also to provide a single voice for the administration. “There’s a lot of noise and not a lot of clarity,” Dodd said.
“He’ll go back with a stronger sense that people are disappointed about how this is being managed,” Dodd said of Ridge.
Dodd advised Ridge to emulate Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who often appears at press conferences with several experts who can bolster his message.
I'm criticizing them on two levels here. One- that they obviously don't have the brains or the training to be remotely objective about anything and two even with the full force of the media and world opinion on their side, they can't even sling sh!t and make it stick. Did nobody on their team look 48 hours down the road and ask a few simple questions? Good lord! To think that they have made it as far as they have. Dem Underground is a nest of snakes and socialist kool-aid drinkers. Yesterday they were certain Bush would be given the death penalty for this- today they're already admitting that somehow Dubya spun it against 'em because it aint going their way.
Turns out I could play offense, but lacked the ability to see two or three moves ahead. Result: slaughter. That's analologous to the Dems lately - leading with their chin. Don't they EVER try to anticipate a counterpunch?
H; r: FYI
No pun intended, right? :)
Mrs Kus
To: mhking
The captured bin Laden aide puts the FBI on alert again
Great, here's the FBI crying wolf again. It's amazing that a spy agency has no concept of what disinformation is.
2 posted on 5/12/02 9:44 AM Central by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
[ To: mhking
So what color alert are we on now? Green? Red? Blue? Orange? Does anybody even keep track of this?
Tom Ridge's color-coded alert system is the biggest non-starter in government since the "conversion" to the metric system back in the 1970s.
6 posted on 5/12/02 9:51 AM Central by SamAdams76
[ To: SamAdams76
"Tom Ridge's color-coded alert system is the biggest non-starter in government since the "conversion" to the metric system back in the 1970s."
That can be said of the whole "Homeland Defense" crap that he is running.
12 posted on 5/12/02 9:57 AM Central by Don Myers
[ 14 posted on 5/12/02 10:01 AM Central by AmericaUnited [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ] To: mhking; dighton; aculeus
Law enforcement sources tell TIME that the bureau has sent word to its field offices and 56 federal terrorism task forces that they should advise local officials to tighten security around large apartment buildings, as well as busy malls, supermarkets and restaurants.
That really narrows it down and engenders a real feeling of security.
15 posted on 5/12/02 10:01 AM Central by Orual
[ To: mhking
The Police State continues.
96 posted on 5/12/02 1:06 PM Central by FreedomFriend
Does it not frequently appear as if the GOP does not want to set the record straight?
Perhaps this tendency arises out of pity for the imbeciles on the other side of the aisle?
By George, I think I've got it! So that is what compassionate conservatism is really about!
I think that some of the folks around the President seem to think that being a 'compassionate conservative' means turning the other cheek when you are attacked. Possibly they are just letting the Dems provide enough rope to hang themselves with. The Republicans do seem to be providing this information about the Democrats not wanting unspecific warnings around, it certainly has been on FOX News tonight.
Even though I'm 3 hours behind you, I cannot keep to your sleeping (or lack of same) schedule. <G> Good night.
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