terror alert level
 

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.

I sort of agree with buckey. I'm not sure the government is issuing any usefull information when it simply raises the color. The terrorists want us to be terrified -- and that is exactly the result of this useless color coded warning system. We're supposed to be "vigilant" (of exactly WHAT?). I don't think all the vigilance in the world can help you avoid being a terroist target. I suspect the people in Israel are plenty vigilant - they still can't avoid having victims of suicide bombers. If the government had specific information, and a specific recommendation (don't fly, don't take Amtrak, don't cross the such and such bridge etc) that might be helpful. But otherwise we are just helplessly parlayzed. It's ridiculus. If I had any money at the moment I'd go to NYC in a heartbeat.

But Chicken Little and the Little Boy who Cried Wolf were making stuff up... The threat level is based on various information. It's hard to tell what the real threat is but we are notified so we will be a little more suspicious of our surroundings.
It is our duty as Americans to take these warnings seriously.
Some innocent bystander is going to have a gut feeling something isn't right about someone they see... and that someone will be the someone who is planning or perpetrates the next attack.
Hopefully this intuition will help save lives.

We telephoned friends &relatives in the city to see how theyre doing. They say they are staying calm despite the news. Didnt hear any speechify about fear, just said they're worried.

NO--we're NOT helpless! All it takes is for us all to keep an eye our for anything a little offbeat or out of the ordinary and then report it. I remember reading a piece by Peggy Noonan shortly after 9/11. Wish I could remember the specifics but she mentioned seeing a man (who fit the stereotypical terrorist demographic) videotaping St. Patrick's cathedral the summer of 2001. Evidently he stood there alone for at least a half hour videotaping it from all angles. At the time she thought it was strange--strange enough to stay around and watch him but then didn't do anything about it--something she later regretted. But before 9/11, who knew? My point is--the government is not and should not be our daddy who will protect us while we go about our business, oblivious to the real world. It's our nation, too, and it's up to us to help protect it. We don't need to get nutty about the whole thing--just pay attention and report anything that seems 'off' while living our lives. I certainly don't want to give terrorists the impression that we're 'helplessly paralyzed.' As a nation we're better than that.

well speaking of being light, I think Ridge's staff must be on here, with all the slogans flying about.

Yeah, but how do you report everything you see Middle Eastern people do that might seem "out of the ordinary" - I mean, taking photos? Who are you going to call about that? The police? And talk about losing freedoms.

Weenie,
Come on--let's get real here. What freedoms are you talking about that we're losing? Sorry if you're offended about what I said (actually I'm not sorry because I meant every word). I am NOT prejudiced and I'm not advocating racial profiling--don't even go there. What I'm saying is to just use common sense when you see something strange. Have YOU ever stood in front of a building(alone) for a half hour just...videotaping? THAT'S STRANGE and yes, in 2003 you do tell the police. I've had FOX news on this morning and have heard at least two police chiefs of major cities say that no tip is too small or too strange to phone in. And Jennifer, I'm not on Tom Ridge's staff but I earn my living by doing Marketing/PR and tend to talk and write in soundbites--it's a curse! Agh, stop me before I soundbite again.

I've often wondered that when the terrorists see that the alert level has been raised do they say, gee, let's wait until it goes back down, and then we'll do something.

When the terrorist threat rises,racial profiling is a GOOD thing and it will save lives. Had the government had the freedom to profile,9/11 may not happened. Muslims with ties to Al-Queda should not learn to just Take-off in planes.

we were planning to fly to michigan this weekend and frankly we were more worried about our 2-year-old catching the flug bug from other travelers! (he got a stomach bug the night before we were to leave so we didn't go after all).
my advice, don't let them win by changing your travel plans. i truly believe your destiny was written when you were born. the day you'll die is already set (as my hubby will exclaim "you are WEIRD!" :-)
it's so easy for all of us to rip the govt. or the media, but we'd be pissed off if they didn't tell us anything and something did happen. all the people who complain about the color-coded alert system, do you have a better suggestion? i don't like some of the things our govt. has done since 9/11, but i admit they have done a tremendous job at stopping any subsequent attacks..and you know those terrorists have tried and will keep on trying to do something on the scale of 9/11 if not worst.
so, enjoy your holidays while keeping an eye out on strange behavior.