Hey guys,

Ya know I usually don't get nervous, etc when they change this level, for some reason this time I am. Of course for the first Christmas in a long time we are flying, on Christmas day, just needed to sound off a little, does anyone else feel this way?
Happy Holidays
Liz

Liz
What is the level?

Officials raised the level to orange(next to the highest) today and said the current terror threat is 'perhaps greater' than at any point since 9/11.

Don't worry... it bears repeating that you are more likely to be killed driving to the airport...
My parents are at a vacation home in Hot Springs AR from 12/26 to 1/04.
It's a 5 hour drive from my house and I actually considered flying to Little Rock vs. driving.
I dread driving long distances but I have no qualms about jumping on a plane.
I guess that's a good thing since I have travel on business every other week.

It's been at that level all along (since 9/11) in NYC, and so far so good.

We flew into Chicago last week.
When we were checking our bags at our departure site out west, a man was at the counter very upset saying he needed to be on this flight and the agent behind the counter remaining calm said the computer would not let her in so she could not ticket him. He continued to ask, "how can I get on?" and she continued to say, "I cannot do it". I thought "good", this last minute thing could be dangerous. It was American Airlines and I was very proud of the agent.

Oh, I forgot to add that I AM a bit scared to go to crowded places like Time Square on New Years Eve or concerts. Any large crowd seems to be an easier target that a commercial airline at the moment.
And though I use them, I am very suspicious of people on subways...

thanks guys for just talking...
I to travel almost weekley for work, but like I said, something this time feels uneasy. I live in Colo Sp, high profile airport. I am going to Nort Dak, ugh, it is going to be 55 here on Christmas, can you believe that? I am sure won't be that in ND.
Anyway, I appreciate you guys, like I said just talking seems to help.
Thanks
liz

Hi Liz/Meggss,

There's a lot to be said for "women's intuition."

I am sure you will be fine.

The terrorist cowards prefer to strike places that most Americans can identify with, but we can't allow them to influence us in any way, or they win without a shot fired.

Go and enjoy your loved ones secure in the knowledge and appreciation of the fact that we in this country are blessed with freedoms and benefits that the vast majority of people in other countries will never be fortunate enough to realize.

Well there's the solution to your anxiety, Meggss.
You know that no geographically clued in terrorist will be targeting ND!!
While Colorado Springs is a high profile military and air command center, up to this point the terrorists have been concerned with attacks which will make major statements. WTC was symbolic of capitalism, money and greed, the DC targets symbolic of the US government.
Colo Spgs would be several notches down on the Big List, I'm sure.

You are more likely to die of the flu than to be killed in a terrorist attack. - So if personal safety is a concern - wash your hands carefully and avoid people who might have the flu. And yes I am serious.

I am afaid of flying this Christmas because I just KNOW I'll catch some virus on the plane. I always seem to, every time I fly.

I agree with Diana. Christmas eve I'm flying south to see my son and new grandson and there's no way I'm altering my plans due to a threat from a cowardly bunch who claim they're "fighting for God". I feel that if I stop travelling every time there's a threat then I may as well just make a donation to Al Qaeda(Al Cowards)

My husband is on a plane right now flying from London to Chicago, en route to seeing his parents on the West Coast. He's far more worried about fitting his 6-foot plus frame into his middle seat in the middle section surrounding by a couple with a baby AND a toddler than he is about the terror alert!!!

[Officials raised the level to orange(next to the highest) today and said the current terror threat is 'perhaps greater' than at any point since 9/11.]

I think they say this every other time they raise the threat level. They're just covering their butts.

There is a thin line between "concern" and paranoia. If you spend all your time worrying about how you might die, when will you have time to live?

Statistically speaking you are far more likely to die in a car accident driving to Grandma's, from the flu, being obese, smoking than dying in a terrorist attack. The news media loves to play up the negative.

We have had 16 highway shootings around the south outerbelt here in Columbus with one woman killed. Everyone is panicing and avioiding the area. The area is probably safer now because of the additional police and helicopters buzzing around. And the news media fails to point out that on this stretch of road, 3,000 cars pass daily. They keep harping on the fact that people are getting shot at, creating hysteria.

IMO, the govt. is covering their collective a****. They keep citing "credible" sources. How many times haven't their "credible" sources been wrong including the wmd's in Iraq?

Just curious, Buckeyemom--would you rather govt. officials keep their information and tips a secret from the public? God forbid that we'd have a terrorist event and not have any pre-warning. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't. My wish to Santa this year is to see politics and political preference wiped out when talking about national security and our troops overseas. And yeah, from what I've heard, some of the sources are pretty darn credible.

I agree in the sense that if they say nothing and something happens, they will be blamed.
so they say something and everyone panics.
As I said on another " terror" post.. they did this last year too, and on July 4th, go out and be brave and enjoy your holidays!

Yes, I think they need to inform the American people there is a threat but I think they can do better than the current color coded system. And, how many times have they said there is an imminent terror threat when nothing has happened? Remember the story of Chicken Little who kept saying the sky is falling or the boy who kept crying wolf? When the wolf showed up everyone was so jaded from the little boy crying out they ignored him.