The Man Who Cries Wolf

May 26, 2002

by Brian W. Peterson

Nearly three months after the color-coded alert system was announced by Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, confusion still reigns within the government regarding how, what, and when to inform the public about threats against America.

Unfortunately, Tom Ridge is quickly becoming the man who cried “wolf” too many times. As in the fairy tale, the population at large will soon tune out such warnings - if they have not done so already.

The five-color warning system is logical and self-explanatory. Criticism has been voiced about the color-coded system, but mostly by people who gripe no matter what solution or system is enacted. The system cannot be effective, however, when the Office of Homeland Security continually releases new but unsubstantiated threats while leaving the nation at “code yellow.”

If threats are unsubstantiated, then they should not be released to the public. The recent announcements of possible terrorist targets have been numerous: various landmarks, apartment high rises, shopping malls and the like.

The problem is that, according to intelligence sources, these threats are unsubstantiated and vague. So why tell us? Why get the public worked up about living their everyday lives if the threats are not known to be credible?

Up to this point, the Bush administration has handled security issues well. Wartime brings concerns of civil liberties - concerns which should not be taken lightly. But terror alerts are not matters of liberty and therefore should be without controversy. However, misuse of terror alerts can have the effect of unnecessarily rattling the nerves of citizens, thus the controversy.

The “right to know” has been bandied about, but advancing such an argument through the recitation of a nebulous right presents no intellectual weight to the discussion. We have the right to know about every unsubstantiated threat the same way we have the right to know the launch code sequence for our nuclear arsenal.

More harm than good has and will come from desensitizing the population to the real threat of another large-scale terrorist attack on our shores.

“Code yellow” means that we need to be aware of our surroundings and aware of possible suspicious activities; an attack is possible. This daily level of alert is disconcerting enough. Disclosing vague threats against America further undermines economic productivity, the stock market, the nation’s confidence and - maybe most important - our vigilance.

Ridge’s knee-jerk reaction to criticism of terror alerts will be meaningless once the next attack occurs. When we suffer through the next attack, and if an alert was not issued prior to the attack, the administration will be blamed for failing to warn the public. If Ridge warns of an attack which is somehow foiled, or if the alert itself discourages the terrorists, then the administration will appear to have returned to the current problem of crying “wolf.”

No matter the course, the administration will be criticized. That’s politics. Because criticism happens, Ridge and the administration need to just do what is best for the country: notify the public if - and only if - threats are deemed specific and credible. Otherwise, displeasure at the unfounded alerts will lead people to, en masse, tune out the warnings.

If the boy warns before the wolf attacks but no one listens, the warnings are worthless. Odd, is it not, that a child’s tale can turn out to be sound policy?

Ridge recently commented on the matter. “We have two choices: You can either keep it to yourselves or you can share it,” Ridge said. “And under the circumstances, depending on the source and the specificity and a few other circumstances and conditions, we may share it.”

Ridge needs to better understand that, when the threats are not specific, his office needs to keep it to itself. If not, he will be remembered in history as the man who cried “wolf” one too many times.

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Brian W. Peterson writes a political column for the Antelope Valley Press (circulation approximately 60,000) in Palmdale, California. He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, where he majored in TV/Film. Brian’s weekly commentary and newspaper columns can be found at www.LifeAndLiberty.com.

Send the author an E mail at Peterson@ConservativeTruth.org.

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