Tom Ridge is talking. Argued against raising threat levels to orange...

[NYCGirl]

Of course, it's always orange here in NYC.


http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050511/1a_lede11_dom.art.htm

The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says.

Ridge, who resigned Feb. 1, said Tuesday that he often disagreed with administration officials who wanted to elevate the threat level to orange, or “high” risk of terrorist attack, but was overruled.

His comments at a Washington forum describe spirited debates over terrorist intelligence and provide rare insight into the inner workings of the nation's homeland security apparatus.

Ridge said he wanted to “debunk the myth” that his agency was responsible for repeatedly raising the alert under a color-coded system he unveiled in 2002.

[Solly Mack]

1. blah blah blah.....did he enable? then he's guilty

he can seek his absolution elsewhere...

[caligirl]

2. Like we said, polls down, warnings up, way up.

[Kurovski]

7. Yes. For all the secrecy of the WH,

they're still pretty transparent.

[The Doctor.]

3. By the time everyone who worked for this administration

comes forward, this will already be a study in the most extreme government in the history of this country.

This is going to fill so many volumes.

[fob]

4. That smug giant-headed prick was just on The Daily Show repeating

the lie that "WE DON'T DO POLITICS WITH HOMELAND SECURITY", can he shut the fuck up and go the fuck away now? Unless he wants to REALLY come out and blow these bush-fristians out of the water entirely and is ready to name names and squeal like a stuck pig.

[tridim]

5. So Ridge, just last week on TDS was lying

when he said, "The terror alert levels were NOT political". Imagine that, another professional Republican liar.

[w13rd0]

6. It's a crazy thought...

...but maybe Jon talked some sense into him after the interview. Or someone who watched or something did. He was obviously uncomfortable, scripted, and everyone knew it. He knew it, you could see it in his eyes. And everything he did was started off with him forming an alliance with Bush to get tech companies to move to Pennsylvania. Tsk tsk. Look what you have wrought Tom. You contributed to this, blood is on your hands too.