Color coding scheme a joke

For those of you who suspected that the Department of Homeland Defense's color-coding scheme was a farce, reader Karen P sends in confirmation:

• 9.11.01: WTC And Pentagon Attacks (3,044 dead)
  
• 3.12.02: DHS's Homeland Security Advisory System established, alert set to Elevated
  
• 9.10.02: Alert changed to High
  
• 9.24.02: Alert changed to Elevated
  
• 4.11.02: Tunisian Synagogue Truck Bomb (20 dead)
  
• 5.8.02: Karachi Suicide Bomber (15 dead)
  
• 6.14.02: Karachi Car Bombing (11 dead)
  
• 10.6.02: French Tanker Bombing (1 dead)
  
• 10.12.02: Bali Bombing (185 dead)
  
• 11.28.02: Mombasa Bombing (15+ dead)
  
• 2.7.03: Alert changed to High
  
• 2.27.03: Alert changed to Elevated
  
• 3.17.03: Alert changed to High
  
• 4.16.03: Alert changed to Elevated
  
• 5.12.03: Riyadh Bombing (29+ dead)
  
• 5.16.03: Casablanca Bombing (41 dead)
  
• 5.20.03: Alert changed to High
  
  Sources:
  White House
  Reuters

In other words, the color-coding system is a crapshoot. Not even, because even a crapshoot gets it right occassionally.

Terrorists can strike when we're least prepared, that much is clear. So scrap this stupid "scare the people" gimmick once and for all. It's not doing anyone any good.

Posted May 20, 2003 05:48 PM | Comments (117)