After some of his comments during the immigration amnesty bill battle, you’d think Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff would watch his comments a little more closely… or, you could watch HIM closely, for the next time he put his foot in it.
It was barely 10 days ago he was telling everyone there was no credible intelligence about any impending threat. Then, a couple days ago, he gave us his “gut feeling” that al Qaeda was going to hit us again this summer. I’m not the only one who has more than a little problem with this kind of “leadership”… Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, is calling on Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to elaborate on his Tuesday comment that he has a “gut feeling” about an upcoming terrorist attack.
Thompson has written a letter to Chertoff, including in part, the following
“What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a ‘gut feeling’? What sectors should be on alert as a result of your ‘gut feeling’? What cities should be asking their law enforcement to work double shifts because of your ‘gut feeling’?
I’ve always thought the color code thing was kinda silly… it reminds me of the Smokey Bear fire danger signs you see going into the National Forests during the summer, with Smokey standing next to the color dial that tells you how great the fire danger is today, and reminding you that “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires”. Every time I go to the airport and hear the recording about what color the threat level is, I can’t help but wonder if they wouldn’t get more attention if they used the Forest Service’s color dial, but instead of Smokey they used Osama, and the slogan “Only You Can Prevent Jihad”?
Thompson continues
“The Committee on Homeland Security has repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting specific, actionable information to our first preventers in law enforcement and other emergency response providers. I urge you to follow up on your ‘gut feeling’ and share whatever information our nation’s first preventers need to be on alert and prepared.
“Mr. Secretary, I urge you to clarify your comments by providing concrete direction to the State, local and tribal stakeholders and if necessary make the required changes to the nation’s threat level to ensure that the American public can take the necessary steps to protect their families, businesses and communities.”
Translation: Michael, don’t be a pompous putz… show us what you’ve got, or get off the front page and shut up.
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July 12th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I think Greg Palast had a good point describing the security threat codes: We’re the only nation puts up a color code to show terrorists which days it would be easiest to attack us on, i.e. if it’s an orange day, just wait till Homeland Security moves the color code back to green…green days are the easiest to sneak a bomb past security. It is sort of ridiculous, but saying this administration is ridiculous became redundant a while ago…