Britain copies U.S. terror alert model...

[marmar]

I guess the threat-level "scare you into submission" B.S. has gone global...


Pitfalls seen as UK copies US terror alert model
By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent Mon Jul 31, 8:28 AM ET
BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain's launch of a U.S.-style terrorism alert system will address concerns about lack of transparency but must avoid the pitfalls of "crying wolf" or being seen as a political tool, international experience shows.

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British authorities will on Tuesday introduce a five-layered threat system to inform the public, with levels ranging from low (attack unlikely) to critical (attack expected imminently).

It closely resembles the scheme in the United States, which since its launch in March 2002 has been set at yellow (elevated) -- the third of five levels -- apart from seven episodes ranging in length from 10 to 101 days when it has climbed to the second level, orange (high).

A comparable four-grade system in Australia has remained unchanged at the third level, medium -- "terrorist attack could occur" -- since its introduction in June 2003.

Varying the level too often can be seen as crying wolf and lead to "threat fatigue" and public cynicism. That may help explain why the United States, after four raised alerts in 2003, issued just one each in 2004 and 2005 and none so far this year. The last one came after the London bombings of July 2005.

On the other hand, leaving the warning constant can also invite criticism of governments.

"The government is a little bit caught, because clearly the level of threat has increased since the involvement in Iraq, but of course they're not admitting to that," said Clive Williams, security analyst at Australia's Macquarie University, referring to his country's troop presence in the Middle East.

The rest is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060731/ts_nm/security_alert_dc

[SmokingJacket]

1. Because it worked SO well here!

B* got reelected, right? :eyes:

[hughee99]

2. Wow...

It shows a complete lack of imagination that they couldn't come up with something better.

[Prophet 451]

3. Blair's a prat

With the entire country telling him he needs to stop acting as the unofficial US Ambassador, he goes and introduces a threat system widely seen here as a complete joke.

First off, why do we need to copy the Americans in everything? Secondly, the threat level has never been lowered beyond yellow so why bother having the lower levels when the obvious intention is to scare everyone witless?

Thank {insert-name-here} that Blair won't be re-elected. We can't take much more of a PM who fiddles in Washington while England burns.

[Barrett808]

4. Kent Brockman: "The government has issued an Orange alert..."

(Sign behind Kent) Hoods Rob Hoods in 'Hoods;

Springfield's pro-darkness policy has resulted in a spree of vandalism unmatched since the Detroit Tigers made the playoffs over two centuries ago. The government has issued an Orange alert, which, once again, means... nothing.

http://www.snpp.com/guides/springfield.media.html

[Greeby]

5. *Sigh* time to dust off this thing

:eyes:

[JackNewtown]

6. Will they ever raise it to "low"?

You are always under threat, turn to Big Brother for protection!

[BooScout]

7. RED ALERT

Blair & Bush are both fecking idjuts.

[w4rma]

8. Wtf? Noone pays attention to that crap. (nt)

[SoCalDem]

9. They can use my color chart if they like

or they could just spin the wheel every day

[CJCRANE]

10. This is BS

just like the US system. Every major terror attack (like 9/11 and 7/7) occurred after the govt lowered the terror preparedness level.

[CJCRANE]

11. If they start pushing this on Sky News

then you know Britain has been taken over by the neocons.

[Javaman]

12. Taking the show on the road!

Damn, I guess moron* and his room full of dopes didn't get their money's worth out of that pile of bullshit, so they sold it to the Brits to recoup their investment.

Why oh why is the world filled with stupid people?