Remember when you knew it was election year because the roads got graded? Oh, how green our valley was, and so was our threat level. I mean, the Republicans basically stopped playing with this new toy after the 2006 mid-term elections, thrown into the back of the closet with their other issue that is in the closet. But at last, it's an election year, so you know what that means!
Terror Time! Republican-style!
U.S. Headed for 'Heightened Alert' Stage
Exclusive: Major Events on the Horizon Prompt a Surge in Anti-Terror Efforts
http://abcnews.go.com/...
Government officials have been quietly stepping up counterterror efforts out of a growing concern that al Qaeda or similar organizations might try to capitalize on the spate of extremely high-profile events in the coming months, sources tell ABC News.
Anti-terror officials in the U.S. cite this summer and fall's lineup of two major political parties' conventions, November's general election and months of transition into a new presidential administration as cause for heightened awareness and action.
This is what the Department of Homeland Security is quietly declaring a Period of Heightened Alert, or POHA, a time frame when terrorists may have more incentive to attack.
Yeah, going with one of the Big 3 in network news should keep this thing pretty quiet. Personally, I would have gone with the Des Moines Morning Farmer's Report, but hey, that's just me.
They didn't raise the alert to orange either, that would have required a press release or something. In fact, this system has been stuck at yellow since some Republican operative was tasked with firing the machine back up for the General election.
Here was my favorite part:
During this time, homeland security analysts will be asked to redouble efforts to study terrorism leads. And a number of agencies will be asked to review emergency response plans to a variety of attacks, from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to biological weapons.
Really? So what exactly are they doing now, just mailing that in? Usually during a time of freaking war, analysts should be on the job 24/7, especially for the amount of money we are paying for defense.
And review emergency response plans? Holy moly, when were those last updated? Seems like we should have a team, nay, a battalion of people reviewing emergency response plans as shifts in the news and international affairs occur. But hey I'm a crazy guy, I like jalapenos in my jello, so who am I talk.
And in a classic example of modern American policournalism:
At the moment, the nation's public threat level will remain at yellow, or "elevated," but not orange, or "high."
The reasons: There are no specifics indicating an attack on the U.S. is imminent, and U.S. officials do not want to be accused of trying to inject themselves into the presidential campaign.
If the officials had done it quietly, I would have believed them. By having this as a exclusive with ABC News, I know they meant to inject this all along.
But Orange you glad they didn't say Red?