U.S. raises threat level (to ORANGE and RED) at airports

[Newsjock]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4107227.html

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government raised its threat level to the highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States early Thursday in response to a reported terror plot in London and also stepped up the general level for all flights within the U.S. or entering the country.

"We believe that these arrests (in London) have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in announcing that the threat level for flights from Britain to the United States has been raised to the highest "severe or red" level.

"To defend further against any remaining threat from this plot, we will also raise the threat level to High, or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the United States," Chertoff said.

[tuvor]

1. Here. This should do.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2447299

[HuffleClaw]

2. so, they are gonna get as much mileage from this as they can eh?

hilarious timing. funny, they HAD been talking about the 23rd. more crying 'wolf' from bushco. for purely political reason.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Any liquids - beverages, lotions - banned from hand luggage ALL US flights

according to BBC TV. On edit: if that's the same as UK restrictions, baby milk is allowed, but will have to be tested by the adult at airport security. Any liquid medication would need to be vital (must have the prescription?)

Brussels airport has stopped flights to the UK - the airports in the UK are getting full (flights are being delayed leaving).

[TomInTib]

4. Oh, Joe, tell us it ain't so..

If you ain't around, we are all in trouble.

KKKarl strikes again.

[azurnoir]

5. So what were Tony

and Georgie talking about again?

[Erika]

6. What a bunch of B.S.

W wants us to be terrified sheeple as he makes government bigger and bigger.

Let the bushbot sheeples buy it.

[NanceGreggs]

7. I guess this is what Cheney meant ...

... when he said Joe's defeat would "encourage the Al Qeada types".

Man, you'd think the guy had a crystal ball ...

[54anickel]

15. Cripes, did Cheney really say that? Guess I missed that one. Jeez

Bushco are such Fers!!! Got a feeling we'll see a lot of this running into the elections. The Repubs have determined the Dems (especially the "anti-war liberals") are soft on national security. :eyes:

[Bluebear]

16. Nance, we must IMMEDIATELY support Joe's independent run.

The future of commercial aviation depends on it. :eyes:

[rooboy]

8. Shit, this sounds almost serious enough for Bush to play golf. n/t

[tanyev]

19. It's Bush vacation/natural disaster/terror threat season.

[cannonfire]

9. You know an election is close...

...when the orange and red alerts come fast and furious. I guess terrorists are more passive in odd-numbered years.

Except for 2001, of course.

[Newsjock]

10. Welcome to DU

I believe this is the first-ever red alert. And we know all the things that have been said about what a "red alert" will mean.

[tritsofme]

11. Its only a red alert for flights between the US and Britain

Orange for all commercial flights, yellow overall.

[mom cat]

23. What art the techinical restrictions that can come with a "red alert"?

I know what I susspect, and it is pretty frightening.

[rooboy]

14. ...and you know how serious it is the further away * is from DC.

welcome to DU!

[BrotherBuzz]

12. Wow, we still have the color-coded "terror alert" system?

I thought we junked them when Tommy Boy Ridge retired and confessed that the terror alerts were bogus. :shrug:

[cboy4]

13. TERRA TERRA TERRA!!!! Here we go . . . must be getting close to

the mid-terms!!!

[lindisfarne]

17. Shall I buy duct tape and plastic sheeting? n/t

[Maeve]

18. Damn. My folks are flying home from the West Coast today

Better check the airport website before I leave home.

[Javaman]

20. We are within the 3 month window till the elections

why is any of this a surprise to us by now?

expect a few more bombings or "almost" bombs, "whew, we narrowly escaped that one" such as this little ditty from England.

A few more warnings, a few more this, a few more of that and hopefully there platform of fear will push them through in November.

Only thing is, they forgot to read the memo, Americans don't believe their line of bullshit anymore.

So sad. I hate watching a fish flopping around trying to get one last gasp before it croaks.

[davekriss]

21. Hey all the talk about terror could make one think...

...we've got an election coming up or something. After all, we've CLEARLY watched the terror warnings and "thwarted plots" appear on cue and multiply in number in the MSM with past elections. Ooooo, thaaaaat's right, we have the most important mid-term election this century coming up in, what is it?, 12 or so weeks? We're supposed to be scared and vote Republican!

[mhatrw]

22. CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED!

Sure, there may be something to this "foiled terrorist plot." Just because they are constantly pissing on our feet and telling us it's raining doesn't mean that it can't actually rain.

But that's not the real issue here. The issue is not whether or not this plot is as full of crap as the MIAMI SEVEN. The issue is] that the Bush administration has once again teamed with our breathless chicken little corporate media to hype a "TERRA TERRA TERRA" story to kingdom come for strictly political reasons.

Scotland Yard may or may not have caught a bunch of dangerous would-be terrorists, and the timing of this may or may not have been orchestrated to the day. But there is one thing we know for sure, and that is that BushCo yelling "CODE RED! CODE RED! CODE RED!" about this already foiled plot was and is a calculated PR gambit. And our corporate media is, once again, more than happy to play Charlie Brown to BushCo's "TERRA ALERT" Lucy football.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

24. hold me bush, i'm scared..

NOT!!