WOULD LOGIC BE TOO MUCH TO ASK FROM THE GOVERNMENT??

I have to seriously wonder about the intelligence level of the people at the Department of Homeland security when I read articles like this.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday lowered its terrorism alert level for buses, subways and trains effective on Friday night -- a month after raising it in response to bombings in London.

"These changes will be effective at 8:00 p.m. local time on Friday, August 12, following local rush hours across the country, at the discretion of state and local authorities," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.

And somewhere, in some cramped headquarters in the desert, some extremist with a jihad death wish and visions of 72 virgins in paradise is emailing that article to some terrorist cell in a dirty apartment in Newark, NJ littered with bomb making materials. All the while they are thinking, “ok subways and trains, ok any time after 8pm on Friday, August 12 – got it.”

Would someone, ANYONE please explain to me why this type of information goes out on Reuters??? I am all for freedom of the press and keeping the public informed. But REALLY, people, why not draw them a map to your house and sit on your front porch sporting a tee shirt in day-glow hunter orange with a BIG RED BULLSEYE ON IT sipping on a beer and waiting for your world to end in a fiery explosion by an insane suicide bomber!!! Because THAT would be only slightly more idiotic than broadcasting information like this.

I understand that there are likely things going on at the Department of Homeland Security that the general public is not privy to. I also understand that they are not going to send ME a memo on what and how they are doing things. However, I also don’t think we should make it easier on the terrorists. Let’s not, oh I don’t know … say publish over our newslines exactly when and where we are most vulnerable. Let’s not GIVE them targets on a silver platter with a nice lemon wedge and wait for them to ram us up the backside with it. Since we’re talking about the security of our nation here, maybe some discretion is called for? Ya think?!?

If the powers that be want to lower the terrorism alert level for buses and other mass transit because they have access to information that I don’t and they think it’s prudent, then by all means go ahead. Do whatever is necessary within the existing infrastructure to conserve manpower and resources when the situation calls for a downgrade, but please don’t call attention to it! Why proclaim to the world the exact location of all the kinks in the armor? That would be akin to putting a big sign on the front of your brownstone in some crime hidden part of NYC announcing, “I will be on vacation for the next two weeks, and oh by the way, the alarm system is broken so please try not to steal all that new electronics equipment inside that I just got at BestBuy – thanks.”

Yup, that’s how dumb we look. That’s worse than asiNINE, that’s asiTEN. (It’s a bad pun, but you get my point.) "Government intelligence", now there is an oxymoron if I ever heard one. I KNOW you people at the Department of Homeland Security have a lot to worry about these days and I sympathize, I really do. It is a big responsibility working in government in these times of crisis. But we are talking about the safety of our citizens here. Shake your head, feel that big 3 lb. blob of meat in your skull? Try turning it on once in awhile, we'd all really appreciate it.

Note: It’s called TSC Girl Tees Off for a reason. Don’t say you weren’t warned. It’s all about the constructive notice!