[Infowarrior] - Bill seeks to end color-coded terror alert

[Richard Forno]

*blinks in surprise*   Is this a Congressional April fools prank or
something?  -rf

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com
Bill seeks to end color-coded terror alert
By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published March 31, 2006

A bipartisan push on Capitol Hill to strip the hue from the government's
color-coded terrorist alert system is gaining momentum.
    A package of legislation moving through the House eliminates the
Department of Homeland Security's use of colors to change the threat level,
and calls for more specific threat information to be shared with the private
sector and local governments.
    "The color code doesn't provide any information to people, what it does
is foster a climate of anxiety without giving useful information to people,"
said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, California Democrat, who worked with Rep. Rob
Simmons, Connecticut Republican, on the legislation.
    "It's not a proper way to give a nationwide response to actual threats."
    The current system, implemented by former Homeland Security chief Tom
Ridge, has frustrated governors and local officials nationwide who say they
are forced to spend millions responding to threat level rises without
information as to whether it directly affects their region.
    The House Homeland Security subcommittee on intelligence, information
sharing and terrorism risk assessment, chaired by Mr. Simmons, yesterday
approved the plan by voice vote. It now awaits action by the full committee.
    "There are no plans to change the color-coded system at this time," said
William Knocke, Homeland Security spokesman.
    "The system itself has matured over time as the country's baseline of
preparedness rises and our threat analyses improves."
    The last time the alert level was raised was July 7-12 after the London
subway bombings.
    Mr. Ridge tweaked the system in 2004 when specific economic areas were
thought to be terrorist targets in New York, New Jersey and in Washington,
and limited the increase in security and spending to those specific cities.
    The terrorist alert system was introduced in March 2002 in five
color-coded stages; low (green) guarded (blue) elevated (yellow) high
(orange) and severe alert (red).
    The country has been on elevated level since the code was introduced and
the terrorist threat has been raised five times to high nationwide.
    The White House briefly went to severe alert when a private aircraft
accidentally crossed over its restricted airspace in 2005. The country has
never been on low or guarded alert.
    The legislation also gives full authority to Homeland Security officials
to issue an increase in threat levels. In the past, conflicting warnings
were sometimes issued from the Justice Department then led by Attorney
General John Ashcroft, which created confusion, the legislation notes.