Terror Alert
 

The terror alert system has been raised to orange.

And the little boy cried wolf.

Again.

The whole process of raising and lowering the levels repeatedly is getting monotonous. It's starting to have very little effect on me now.

I'm going to avoid the subways until January, which doesn;t mean I won't use them, but as little as possible.

Did they say exactly why it was raised? Is it because of the recent capture of Saddam? Do they fear reprocussions? Just curious - I've been working 22 hours in the past 2 days and with my recent graduation, I haven't been around a television.

Well if they said exactly why it was raised, then the enemies might be able to figure out our intelligence sources, as well as know what we know and what we don't know.

From what I've been able to piece together, Ayman-al-Zawahiri, SPECTRE's* - ahem - Al-Qaeda's 'Number Two' man went on Arab TV and mentioned that they were planning a major terrorist attack around the holidays in the U.S. of A. There may be other indicators we may not be aware of that caused the powers that be to ratchet up the threat condition to Orange.

Al-Zawahiri is considered just as dangerous as Osama, and some say he's even worse than his boss. Unusual to see him instead of the main man delivering a threat, and that's something that's keeping our defenses up on guard.

* SPECTRE - The SPecial Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. Had to insert a sly James Bond reference, but al-Qaeda operates very much like the fictional nemesis of 007. ;)

Here's a snippet from CNN.com

For the full story, I'm pretty sure www.cnn.com will keep everyone updated.

I hope this helped :)

My guess is that I'm totallly wrong, but I have this theory that these "terrorists" are screwing with out heads.

Seems like just about every time a traditional holiday when Americans travel a lot comes up, so do the "credible" threats.

Of course we can't ignore them, but this may be a form of psychological terrorism.

OMG, I think I'll stay in all week.

You're probably right, but you're also in Colorado. I live in Manhattan, and even though there probably won't be a terrorist attack, which is a collection high value targets for Al Qaeda. I can't be so dismissive of these threats.

no, but new york city has also been in a constant state of orange alert since 9/11..has that stopped you from living your life normally (well, as normal as post-9/11 can be..)?

Great... I'm flying tommorow. They ALWAYS choose me to be searched before boarding.

Not all "states of orange" are equal. What was recently announced includes potential targets in my town, so it is effecting me. Its easier to be completely rational when you don't live in a potential terrorist target.

i live 12 miles from manhattan, and am in the city pretty often. don't dismiss my being rational because i live in middle america and am not in similar danger should there be an attack. my risk is clearly not as high as yours - but should something happen it would definately have a huge impact on my everyday life, thanks.

I think it's all just stupid.

Like they are really going to ANNOUNCE they're coming.

Cars are now being searched at the airport, as if we needed more delays to deal with.

I live in NYC and I'm not afraid of any attacks. If it happens, it happens, not much I can do about it. I'd rather die living my life than stay "safe" quaking in a closet. I find that most New Yorkers feel this way.

On the other hand, there's a 50/50 chance I'll be moving to Manhattan shortly after the first of the year.

Just won't allow these guys mess with my mind...

* raises hand *
Me too!

Poor you! My car has always gotten waived right through - I think the sorority decals and pink everywhere manage to convince them I'm not a threat. ;)

i don't know how much that holds true:) i was always searched even before 9/11. once my friend and i went to pick her boyfriend up (when they still allowed non-passengers to go to the gates) at the albuquerque airport and they tested our purses for explosive material. not kidding..the bags were seriously tiny too.

Currently, I'm at home in Florida--about 2 miles from the largest military installation in the free world. I remember how tight security was during Gulf War I. The way I see it, I'm in just as much sitting here on the Gulf as I am in my Manhattan apartment.

So I don't worry that much--here nor there.

Yikes! I've never had problems flying yet. (knocks on wood) Now that I've said this, it'll take us like 9 years to get through security in D.C., I can see it.

Just remember to be sure and use the restroom before flying to or from DCA (Washington National Airport*)! Current security requirements prohibit anyone from getting up out of their seats for 30 minutes before landing into and 30 minutes after takeoff from DCA. Get up out of your seat before the 30 minutes are up and you will automatically force the flight to be diverted to the nearest airport.

(*Sorry, not calling it by its official title - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Same goes with Houston Intercontinental Airport - aka George Bush Houston Intercontinental. They ain't dead yet! :) )

Old habits die hard. With absolutely no disrespect to the former President, it'll probably always be "National" to me.

At least I'm not alone here! :)

I was out and about in Manhattan today. I haven't seen this many police officers since Sept. 2002. The city was the busiest I can remember in over two years. I was near Rockefeller Center and saw the Christmas tree. I walked up Fifth Avenue. The stores were decorated beautifully. There were so many people out shopping and sightseeing. I felt secure. I was afraid of pickpockets which aren't uncommon at this time of year. It took me one hour to walk 20 blocks which is a long time for me. So in summary, I am not afraid, but I am concerned. I am living my life as safely as I can. :)

Ditto!

Oh, I noticed something interesting during my commute today. I pass a truck weigh station on my way to work and another on my way home... Both were open today. Weigh stations are pretty much NEVER open. Hmmm...

According to NBC Nightly News, the major targets are Las Vegas and a small town I can't remember the name of at the moment.

I still wonder if this isn't mostly psycho-terror.

It could very well be. Make vague threats and see how high the Americans jump. :(

But a good way to combat psycho-terror is to just keep living your life the way you would do anyway. Screen air passengers more carefully, increase police patrols, yes, but don't let the possibility of terrorism keep you hiding at home. Look at Israel - every time they go to market, they know today could be the day their market gets blown up, but they go anyway. If you hide at home, then the terrorists have won.

Stay safe, everyone.

Heard on the news that Air France cancelled five flights lately due to terrorist threats, today and tomorrow (24th and 25th Dec)

Also, the police caught a plan to bomb train station (?not sure, might be subway), and they found the bomb on a vehicle. This is in Madrid, Spain, btw

Stay safe ya'll :o

Right, and those flights were coming to Los Angeles.

This is just how *I* see it...
 

NO JOKE!!! I am sorry but seriously these terrorists are NOT THAT DUMB. :rolleyes: I also agree with whoever said that this is more so psychological terrorism than anything else. Ok I'll admit I was wrong if tomorrow the country gets attacked but I honestly doubt it. And I understand people who live in higher danger zones or whatever wanting to be cautious or whatnot, but really the way I see it if it's going to happen, it's going to happen and I don't think there is much any of us individually can do. So I say live your life as best as you can, don't be careless but don't live in fear. I believe that what is meant to happen will happen. That's life. Ok, enough rambling from Kiki.

/hijack

Umm that's not true. When there is fear in the air, the streets in Jerusalem are empty. Nobody wants to go into the street. Ben Yehuda becomes a ghost street. The stores and public transport become hard hit and people rely on delivery and private transport. Much of the private enterprise there has hired private body guards for most stores and people usually don't go into places without the guards. That quote about hiding at home is foolish - it doesn't hold in most places where there is rampant terrorism. Terrorism achieves its goal very effectively. It doesn't mean people sit at home crying, but it also doesn't mean you let your children ride the bus to go clubbing.

-Rudey

Hey pops, we should go to a bar!

-Rudey

I'll let you know if it happens. Don't forget your ID.

Oh it'll happen. I've got faith in you. James will meet up with us. Only us 3 because hey who would expect it.

-Rudey
--And why would I be the one to forget my ID? I've still got my memory ;)

May I come, too?