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DHS Ponders "Improving" Terrorism Alert System
An anonymous reader writes "The DHS's color-coded terrorism risk warning system has often been criticized on a number of grounds. However, it seems that at last DHS has taken note of these criticisms and is finally planning to fix one of its problems. Which one? Well, since the two lowest levels have never been used in the history of the program, the solution is obvious: just get rid of them! In the new system, the lowest level would be yellow, 'guarded,' representing 'A constant state of vigilance to protect against a terrorist attack.' While it's nice that they're at least no longer maintaining a pretense of it being for anything other than fear-mongering, I don't think this was the kind of change most people were hoping for."
'A constant state of vigilance to protect against a terrorist attack.'
But this should make all the Young Libertarians on Slashdot delirious with delight. Isn't the price of freedom supposed to be eternal vigilance?
Let's just declare martial law and get it over with.
Ed R.Zahurak
You know, oblivion keeps looking better every day.
If we let down our guard then the terrorists win.
There may be no "I" in team, but there's also no "F" in way.
Green - Dangerous minorities in the area. Lock the doors.
Yellow - asians are messing with our computers again. Use Linux.
Orange - Mexican drug gang wars are spilling over in to the United States. Wear Kevlar.
Red - Socialist President. Abandon the country.
These terror alert levels write themselves.
"Purple alert! Purple alert!"
"What's a purple alert?"
"Well, it's like not as bad as a red alert, but a bit worse than a blue alert -- sort of a mauve alert."
- Lister and Holly
Yeah, yellow is pretty much the constant. So, people are typically going "okay, it's a normal day, carry on then". If it's orange (I've flown once during orange) then there's a bit of tension in the air. Makes for a more unpleasant airport experience, but it also tends to make people more aware of their surroundings.
So sure, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. You SHOULD always be aware of what's around you and remain alert. It's not rocket science.
Sent from your iPad.
... Obama would just get rid of the alert system entirely. It was developed by GW Bush, and therefore is just fundamentally wrong. It just creates panic anyways ... it servers no real purpose ... nobody is going to hide in their bunkers or join a local militia if we go to the highest terrorist alert level, are they?
This system provides no real benefit to the American populace other than to instill fear.
I don't stop what I'm doing because for some reason or another, the day has been ranked a "red" terrorist day.
Really, all it does (besides instilling fear) is give news sources something to talk about briefly.
Why not take it all the way and reduce it to one level:
"Be afraid, be very afraid. There will soon be a terrorist attack. Support your masters in whatever they want to do."
For historical reasons I recommend a brownish-grey as the colour.
In this respect, not much seems to have changed.
From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
Take note that if they go to three colors, the current Blue would be the new Yellow - that is to say "A general risk of terrorist attack". Methinks the summary's a bit off.
Ignoring the fear that it was probably _designed_ to instill in the population and potentially the global population... It's just a pointless system.
If this system is at all meant for the general population, it's failed. When I go out on vacation, or planning on visiting a major city and/or landmark, I never even think of the Alert colors.
I understand that it may potentially only be for government agencies, especially law enforcement, but even then does saying we're at yellow, or orange, or even red _really_ give them direction? I'm assuming even if there are general rules in place to "do x and y when at color z" they only get rudimentary things done. Say, bringing in more personnel or putting more people on standby status. Even the agencies need to know _what_ to look for and in what fashion the event is predicted to take place.
Really, beyond fear, I can't see the point in the system at all. If there is something to report to the public, report it. If there is something to report to government agencies, I bet there are a bunch of better ways, already in use, to alert the proper acronyms of the who, what, when, where, and why.
Government WANK alert system. Whereby the wankiness of a government is scaled by public opinions, and if the scale hits a certain point, everyone in public office at that time is tossed out at once, and we elect a whole new batch?
We can have a National Referendum day in 60 days from the time the WANK alert is triggered. 15 days to register to run, 15 days to organize campaigns, and 30 days to run. If people campaign before the official campaign limit, they are automatically excluded from the ballot.
And nobody can run if they have ever held elected office before.
I'm sick to death of Damned Professional Politicians. Lets get some amateurs in and see if they can do better.
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
Regardless of the color code you only have three security modes, oppressed, more oppressed, and tyranny. Anyone else who tells you otherwise is a martyr.
Green = "Go ahead, let your guard down, see what happens" Yellow = "There is a new budget up for vote, and if you don't give DHS more money the terrorists win" Red = "Imminent threat, only direct intervention by Steven Segal can prevent global disaster" Black = "We told you this would happen if you didn't give DHS more money"
You wouldn't be locked to any predefined colors and you could be as specific as you wanted to be.
Those "threat levels" dont mean anything anymore because we are numb to them. The harassment that you get through security is really just an illusion: if you feel like you are inconvenienced and your stuff is being searched, then you feel safe. I remember going through security 3 times on one trip...getting to my hotel and pulling out the power brick from my briefcase only to have my pocket knife come out with it. I didnt intentionally bring it...but...holy crap on a crap cracker...I made it through security with that! There are other stories as well, but its all about the illusion - people feeling safe and people feeling like the govt is doing something. Truth is that if one of these jackholes really wants to do something terroristy - then they will find a way. I hate that it will happen...but it will...and I am sure we will get more inconvenienced over it.
1331461 is only semiprime *sigh* Alas - I am just short of 1337.
That does NOT mean DHS is less fucked up than a football bat.
I don't follow. You don't need a bat for footb-- OHH!
Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.
Having a childish, Star Trek based "Terror Alert System" only plays into the hands of terrorists by giving them goals. Furthermore, it lets them know if we're on to something. I'm not big on government secrecy, but if they're investigating an attack on the country I'd prefer that they take care of the problem and then tell everyone. Letting the terrorists know we're on to them by raising the "terror level" is just absurd.
"From the depths of my skeptical and rationalist soul, I ask the Lord to protect me from California touchie-feeliedom."
We'll move from "Orange" to "Grape" then "Tutti-Fruity"
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
Here
Color Code Fuchsia Security Status ("Relatively High").
Color Code Magenta Security Status ("A Tad Higher Than Relatively High, but Not Totally High.")
Color Code Security Status Mauve ("Calm, but Tense").
Color Code Security Status Key Lime ("Partly Cloudy").
Color Code Security Status Maroon ("Dark Brownish Red").
Color Code Security Status Peach ("Viewer Discretion Advised").
Color Code Security Status Burnt Umber ("Medium Rare").
Color Code Security Status Tangerine ("Uh-Oh").
Color Code Security Status Jalapeno ("Everyone Down!").
Color Code Security Status Traffic Cone Orange ("Yipes!").
Best Slashdot Co
By keeping the threat level at Orange (High) for as long as they have DHS has done two things:
1) Desensitized the rating system to the point that it's meaningless.
2) Left a lot of people thinking, "You mean after all these years and billions of $s we haven't been able to reduce the threat?"
That's not exactly true. DHS Sets Security Alert Level To Green For 8 Seconds
When was your flight? I don't think anyone even pays attention to this anymore, do they?
I think they should rename yellow to "lets face it, the world never WAS safe, and never will be. Learn to accept it."
If it's orange (I've flown once during orange) then there's a bit of tension in the air. Makes for a more unpleasant airport experience, but it also tends to make people more aware of their surroundings.
I've never flown in not-orange ever since they came up with the system. I'm not some business traveler, but I fly between three and six times a year round-trip to various places around the country, and I always hear the same recording of some guy saying "The current threat level is orange". And I don't think anyone has so much as batted an eye. From San Francisco to Denver to freaking JFK Intl., I've never seen people act more alert and suspicious after that announcement.
Like this B.S. threat level is so well correlated with actual terrorist plotting that, if you're worried about terrorists, it's safe to lower your guard during a "yellow" threat level. Please! People are going to react the same way to "suspicious" things they see in an airport, and they're going to pay just as much attention either way. Nobody cares about the threat level, for one because it never changes, for two because it doesn't make any sense to do anything different -- if you're paranoid about terrorists and care to be alert on the 1-in-a-billion chance you personally spot terrorist activity, you will be just as much so during "yellow" as "orange". And if you're like me, and not worried much at all about terrorists, you're going to keep a vague eye out but you're still not going to give a shit how scared TSA says you should be.
The Terror Alert is useless bullshit.
The enemies of Democracy are
Dept. of *
That's definitely not true. There are quite a number of nonzero-but-low possibility scenarios that one could legitimately be considered "fear-mongering" over. (Asteroid impacts, etc) Fear-mongering doesn't mean that there's no chance of something happens, it just implies that the rhetoric is out of proportion to the risk.
The ringing of the division bell has begun... -PF
Obligatory Red Dwarf:
Rimmer: Kryten, take us to Blue Alert. Kryten: Are you sure, sir? It does mean changing the bulb.
Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
Yep yep. I interpret the terror alert color to only indicate one thing: how long the line will be at the security checkpoint. And it's for purely psychological reasons: higher danger levels make us desire a greater inconvenience in order to feel safe.
To wit: if the color was green, nobody would care if they just whisked everybody through without searching purses, confiscating water bottles, and making us take off our shoes.
FATMOUSE + YOU = FATMOUSE
Law enforcement use a similar color code system. Officers must always maintain the "always alert" (on guard) awareness level of vigilance. The only reason to have codes below this is for training and discipline purposes. If an officer lets their guard down and drops below the "always alert" level, the safety of the officer and/or citizens can be jeopardized. So, on a public spectrum, I agree with the change that the public only need to know our code awareness level from "Guarded" on up.
You may want to expand these obscure acronyms before plastering them all over the place.
I thought you were referring to a furniture store of some kind.
LOL.
And the continuous state of alert just causes degradation and ignorance.
People would just ignore it like they do with some warning lights in the car. "You don't have the seat belt on" is just ignored since they already know it, and know it's illegal in most states to not have the seat belt on but they don't give a crap.
So an "Elevated" state of alert is in reality "Normal" to "Ignorable". A "Critical" state of alert will be considered "Elevated" and when it's critical all traffic will have a standstill anyway.
If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
Agreed -- mostly. You're right in that just because something is possible doesn't mean it's likely.
OTOH, there are a number of likely scenarios and we are certainly no better off security-wise than we were before 9/11. Sticking a bunch of rent-a-cops in front of possible terrorist targets and airport terminals and giving them metal detectors and bomb sniffers will stop only the casual terrorist who hasn't thought things through.
From what we know now, the 9/11 terrorist attacks took years of planning. Do you really think that terrorists who are willing to wait in the wings for years, plotting and scheming the whole time aren't already systematically testing this 'new' security for weaknesses?
Don't be stupid and above all, do not trust the DHS when they tell you that we are more secure. Because we are certainly not.
My blog
I'll be really scared when we hit plaid...
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
That's funny, The Onion just ran a story on this very topic: http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/dhs_sets_security_alert?utm_source=b-section
Maybe the only proper way to run these alert levels is to take a clue from the efficiency experts. This is from memory since I can't find a good link but the story is something like this:
a. A factory wanted to determine the effect of lighting on productivity
b. They increased lighting and productivity increased. Yay!
c. Just to be sure, though, they decreased the lighting level and were surprised when productivity increased. Qua?
d. Conclusion sometime people change their behavior just because something changed.
If actually know there's a potential threat raise the threat level and announce "The threat level was raised to orange". If the threat continues then lower the threat level for a day or so and then raise it again. Etc. etc. Once the threat has passed revert to a baseline threat level and leave it there.
Waltz, nymph, for quick jigs vex Bud.
It's not useless. It's simply a symbol of control, and a way to keep people cowed. They haven't taken it to red, they're reserving that for when they need a shot of mindless patriotism to get something illegal taken care of, so they can claim it was done to "prevent terrorism".
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
It would be "fear-mongering" if there were NO possiblity of a terrorist attack.
Since there are lots of things much more likely to kill you and destroy your property, ya it's fear mongering, as in "selling fear". The public really can't use the color of the Terrorist Alert Status to protect themselves, their families, their neighbors, or their property from harm. All one can do is worry more. Who can add an hour to their life by worrying more? Checking your smoke detector batteries is more likely to save your life than knowing the current color code.
I am not a crackpot.
more dangerous than cunning terrorists.
Hope is the currency of fools
Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
It's not useless. It's simply a symbol of control, and a way to keep people cowed.
Yeah, I meant useless from our point of view (which the OP seemed to suggest wasn't the case), not useless from its creator's point of view. I think we all know the use of the Be Scared Alert for them, long before Tom Ridge spilled the beans.
The enemies of Democracy are
No the DHS can act as if it's always yellow or orange or whatever color they keep it locked to. The rating system is supposed to be FOR THE PUBLIC. I don't think since oh what was it Sept 11, 2001 that we should collectively be on a state of constant panic and alert looking for terrorists. Now if they get some credible threats and/or chatter that something is imminent then yes it would make sense to raise it from Blue or Green or whatever to yellow or orange to get the public involved in helping them. However, the presumed constant state of alert as others have said will only lead to people just flat out ignoring the system unless it comes out to 'WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!' and some jackass flies a few more planes into some buildings.
09F911029D74E35BD84156C5635688C0
+2 Troll is Slashdot's way of saying groupthink is confused
I'm reminded of the "tutti-frutti" effect in DOOM, which happens to walls when there's nothing there.
Ya know, all of a sudden I like your scheme a whole lot!!
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
Ludicrous Fear! GO!
Green/"Normal" - no particular reason to be antsy, equivalent to a normal day on a military starship. Still, don't be complacent.
Yellow/"Elevated" - equivalent to Yellow Alert
Red/"High" - equivalent to Red Alert, one step short of martial law
Of course, all 3 levels should be used in a per-industry or per-location basis. For example, if there is a specific threat on a specific seaport, then that seaport might to elevated or high for the duration of the threat and the rest of the country remain at normal.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Obviously, neither of you has played football in the 'hood lately. Have you never wondered why those rappers can't sing? It's obvious - they've had their brains beat out with a football bat!!
"Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Look, it's a department whose sole purpose is defending the homeland. How is it fear mongering to stay on "a constant state of vigilance". And when would they ever go less than that, realistically? Do we want a Department of Homeland Defense whose alertness to terrorism status is "Not paying attention.", which is what is less than "vigilant".
What we want is a population with sufficient intelligence and maturity to be able to recognise the War on Terror for exactly what it is; a sham, and Orwell's "war without end," which exists for the express purpose of enabling the gradual, overt introduction of total fascism.
The GWOT has no legitimacy, and the DHS doesn't either. They are both instruments of fascism, and absolutely nothing more.
If you're having trouble believing that every single terrorist incident which has occurred in the last ten years, has been orchestrated by governments, it's very simple to figure out the underlying logic.
Simply ask yourself who the overwhelming beneficiary of the attacks has been.
The DHS was/is not even necessary, and is just another bureaucracy clogging up things even more.
Those who trade freedom for security get neither. The more you allow government to protect you the more power you allow them to throw you in a dungeon and throw away the key. No Trial, No Rights, No more Liberty.
You either put the handcuffs on the government or they put them on you.
You know what? Among conservatives, "Patriotic" has lost its original meaning of loving one's country. It has become the codeword for their own type of "Politically Correct."
It is already orange and has been orange forever as far as air travel goes.
I chuckle at that every time I fly, because leaving it at one step below the actual attack state means if it ever went to red for good reason, no one will care.
Boiling frogs works both ways. if you constantly caution people when there is no real danger, they lose the ability to see genuine threats.
In a highly anticipated move, Congress today determined that all DEFCON levels above 1 are unneeded and will be scrapped.
"Well, we're at war 24/7 as it is, the system should reflect that," stated a representative.
Defence contractors were unable to comment, though one did make a side remark that he was too busy counting his money.
they have so far! its informative and effectively communicates the urgency of the matter.
if they build a new one, maybe they can make it one that changes states/colors? so that way we know when there isn't alot of terrorism threat.
Good people go to bed earlier.
Sorry- I didn't mean to give the impression that I supported DHS or its idiocy. The alert system is very much complete fear-mongering, and 99% of the changes they have made, especially with respect to air travel, are complete security theater.
Part of this is really a definition of likely, too. Terrorist attacks just are not very likely, and frankly, they're not terribly scary when they occur in the US simply because of their infrequency and overall low death counts. Looking at the statistics, your chance of being killed or injured in a terror attack in the US is effectively zero.
The terrorists might be out there (and are probably more numerous given our country's actions in the last decade), but they're not anything approaching the threat that a lot of people would love for you to believe they are.
The ringing of the division bell has begun... -PF
Get rid of the DHS.
They have done NOTHING but shit on America.
There is an ELEVATED risk of the Department of Homeland Security being morons. A constant state of vigilance is advised to guard against erosion of civil liberties and constitutional rights.
Personally, I'm just happy to see the change because it means no more putting blue in between yellow and green. That always bugged me, as a slightly OCD person who used to sort things in rainbow order, from crayons to the Skittles I was eating.
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
Actually, I was talking about the terms as used in the Star Trek tv-show universe.
I wish I could give you +5 for the use of humor to derail a subthread.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
I like this version better:
Green - Dangerous minorities which are little and from Zatox in the area. Lock the doors.
Yellow (Dog) - asians^H^H^H^H^H^H Democrats are messing with our computers again. Use Linux.
Orange - Mexican drug gang^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Ukranian political wars are spilling over in to the United States. Wear Kevlar.
Red - Socialist President. Abandon the country.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Put a smile on my face every time.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Free Martian Whores!
Tutti-frutti alert status will be reserved for when aliens teleport in from other dimensions.
I had a car once where the low-oil indicator light constantly flickered on. I'd top off the oil but the light would still flicker its warning. I soon learned to ignore it. Not long after that there was catastrophic engine failure.
Besides, orange alert is when they send out the big bouncing ball to chase you.
Ohhh... It's paisley!
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
D'oh. Yep, that'd be a read fail on my part.
Indeed. Half a million Americans die from cancer every year, another half a million die from heart disease every year, 45,000 die on the American highways every year, fewer then 4,000 died from terrorism in this century. More Americans have died in the misbegotten Iraq war than have died on American soil from terrorism.
I'd like to see some of that Homeland Security money going for some guard rails and other highway improvements.
Free Martian Whores!
That was the ELECTRIC Kool-Aid!
We could go to Jonestown, from here, but it's gettin' late and I gotta be back home...
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
You've flown once in the last three years then?
All flights have been Orange since August 10, 2006. The suspects in the plot that caused it to be raised to orange have been apprehended, tried for non-terrorism crimes, tried for terrorist plotting (hung jury), and retried (convicted). The alert level has remained unchanged.
You should not be any more alert than normal, because Orange is normal. You can remain "alert" (for what?) if you like, but it's silly to say you should do anything different because of an alert level that isn't ever different.
Hint: The biggest dangers to Americans have nothing to do with terrorism.
you had me at #!
"While it's nice that they're at least no longer maintaining a pretense of it being for anything other than fear-mongering, I don't think this was the kind of change most people were hoping for."
Congratulations, you just discovered that we live in an oligarchy!!!
Guess it doesn't matter one hill of bean or another WHO you vote for because whatever choice you choose it is either a Turd Sandwich or a Giant Douche.
Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
Please consider that the oil warning light is actually a low oil pressure warning, which can have a wide variety of causes, low oil levels being a common one.
If your car doesn't have an oil contents sensor in the oil pan, only newer cars tend to have one AFAIK, your engine is operating in damaging/dangerous conditions whenever the light comes on
Of all the lights on the dashboard it's the worst one to ignore.
A loss of lubrication will sooner or later result in a piston seizure, which is pretty dangerous. It will block the power wheels...
Please note that I am not a car mechanic.
And maybe they should rename orange to "Still not as dangerous as your drive to the airport is going to be."
It's caled Perpetual war
Oceania (commonly called the US and Britain) is at war with Terrorism. Oceania has always been at war with Terrorism.
This terror scale goes up to eleven...
Green - "whew, republicans control every branch of government"
Yellow - "so called 'hackers' are posting documents proving government corruption to wikileaks"
orange - "anonymous is posting on 4chan"
red - "you have been killed by a government death panel"
VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
Ignorance is peace. Freedom is hell. Control is love.
And cranberry sauce! WHOOOOOOOOOO!
It's a perfect time for being wasted.
A perfect time to watch the stars.
- Burden Brothers, "Beautiful Night"
not sure which is the really scary one - but that is the whole idea isn't it?
http://www.zefrank.com/redalert/index_better.html
My favourite.
"...the colors corresponded to the skin colour taht the terrorists would most likely be on a given day."
"And I remember an intern at the time that said "wouldn't it be problem if you printed it out on a piece of paper and it was a white terrorist?"
" A white terrorist...'"
JB
Forgetting about the Security Theatre side of the threat level for a moment. I always thought it would be best if the threat level was related to something that people could get a real grasp of. For example:
Risk of being injured or killed today by terrorists is the same as:
And we know we really need to be on guard when the terror threat reaches: "Automobile Accident" or "Smoking". Fortunately, I think we'll probably find we haven't actually reached "Socks" level yet. Of course we'll never have such a system since it was clearly inform the public.