Summary
Tom Ridge, the former chief of Homeland Security who resigned Feb. 1, said he often disagreed with Bush administration representatives on the raising of the country's terrorist alert levels. Ridge wanted to debunk the rumors that his agency was responsible for the frequent raising of the alert status. Options on revising or scrapping the color-coded alert system are currently under review by new Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff. Ridge said a communication tool like that should be used "sparingly." Polls reported the public found the alert system confusing.
It did have the effect, however, of bolstering public support for the President for the election. That, it seems, may have been the whole purpose of the terror alerts all along.
Original source:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-10-ridge-alerts_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA
Details
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?'
In most cases, Ridge said Homeland Security officials didn't want to raise the level because they knew local governments and businesses would have to spend money putting temporary security upgrades in place.
"You have to use that tool of communication very sparingly," Ridge said at the forum, which was attended by seven other former department leaders.
Among those on the council with Ridge were Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI chief Robert Mueller, CIA director George Tenet, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Ridge and Ashcroft publicly clashed over how to communicate
threat information to the public.
But Ridge has never before discussed internal dissention over the threat level.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has created several downloadable courses on survival and preparedness, including his widely-downloaded course on personal safety and self-defense. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2010, Adams co-founded NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing site that has now grown in popularity. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Email this article to a friend
Share
this article on: 
