a place to put random discourses on life
While driving to work this morning, i happened to catch a quote by Howard Dean. He was talking about how terorist threats and terror warnings should NOT be made public, they "cause too much panic" and stress among everyday people. The only people who should be given this information are public officials and emergency response teams.....

WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!

Please tell me that I heard him wrong, "let's NOT tell people that they are are a higher risk...." Brilliant idea. So in the aftermath of a terror attack, we can tell the families of the victims, "we knew about it, but we didn't think you needed to know." I can just see where that would lead. You think we have a deficit now? How much will we have to pay to the victim's families? How much will this cost the government in support and trust from it's own people?

Maybe I am looking at this the "wrong" way, so please enlighten me. As for the reverse situation, I can see people becoming disinterested and dessensitized to possible threats eventually if warnings are issued and nothing happens. But this isn't my concern. People disregard warnings for fire, flood and tornados all the time....that is their choice. I just feel knowingly withholding information is a worse senario.

This being said, I do not approve of the idea that the DOD/National Security should provide all information to the public. I understand security risks and reasons for security. I am simply refering to terrorist threat warnings being made public......

Comments
on Aug 04, 2004
First of all, I've never heard of John Dean so this is a fairly unbiased comment: I don't think it would be that bad of an idea.

How much will this cost the government...[\quote]

The new defense measures, the Dept. of Homeland Security, etc. all cost the government money. If they are as well prepared and as effective at preventing an attack as they have been made out to be, the public shouldn't need to know about every little threat, or even the more credible threats. Granted, I don't think all said defense systems are as effective as they seem.

I know I've found the terror alert system to be quite jaded already. I don't find myself watching my every step or paying closer attention to anything at an orange level any more than I would at a purple, green, or aquamarine level.

I'd also like to say that a terrorist warning/threat isn't similar to a tornado, T-storm, or flood warning. Those are tangible and visible; just look at the sky to see. Terrorist threats, not as tangible; if they're seen it is probably too late.