4th of July Fear-Cast:

[kpete]

[KittyWampus]

1. about as accurate as our local weather channel. LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I am betting your weather channel is far more accurate. NM

[MADem]

3. I have seen increased security measures in place for weeks, now.

At airports, military installations, and more police than usual in places where people congregate. I was on a military base the other day and the difference was evident. Same deal w/airport--more security, more visible, too.

It's noticeable--at least to anyone who is looking and spotting the differences.

What I haven't seen is ORANGE ORANGE ORANGE TERRA TERRA TERRA, on the TV, for weeks at a time, to the point where no one pays attention anymore, like we'd see in the Bush regime. None of that relentless BE VERY AFRAID nonsense.

They're probably expecting some ass to hit a fireworks display or some other event where people congregate, and they probably have a half clue as to how or where this might happen--but it's never a bad idea to let people know that there might be a jerk out there wanting to ruin the day.

Keep your eyes and ears open if you go out.

You'll probably be fine but it doesn't hurt to have a bit of situational awareness.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. I am waiting for that increased security presence to become "normal"

So far there have been 3 highly publicized, blathered on the news, events of possible terror attacks,
all of which turned out to be ...nothing. Zip.
One was even reported a couple of days ago as 2 men with guns in a work building.
Nothing. No evidence of them anywhere.
The minute anything suspicious happens, it is fed to tv news, gets hyped up and turns out to be not a bomb in a parking garage but a paper bag-type of event.

The public is being desensitized to TSA being at every public transportation hub, (not only airports, but bus and train stations) to Homeland Security pulling over pleasure craft in state waters, to heavy DSH intrusive presence at our borders,to militarized police presence, to harsh and aggressive police tactics, to "shelter in place" orders.

Happy Independence Day.

[MADem]

6. I don't spend all day listening to news, so it hasn't hit me that way.

I did have a harder time avoiding ORANGE ORANGE ORANGE in the Bushco Nahn Wun Wun era.





The Navy Yard scare was a result of a bad report--you have to wonder who made the report, and why....

Someone who didn't get their work done and wanted to avoid a meeting? A weirdo looking for jollies?

The news reacts to fill a vacuum. If nothing's going on, bullshit goes to the top of the queue. If there's lots of news, we don't see the silliness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. DHS issues these notes to law enforcement

every so often. Most do not make it beyond well law enforcement. Every so often they send them as part of the email blast to media. We chose to just add the line from PD, if you see something, say something. Why? To me it applies to a medical emergency, the kid next door building pipe bombs for fun, or the guy prowling the neighborhood.

The second issue...we talk about ISIS and radicalization. Yup, it happens. Notice which radicalization has disappeared from news again? RW radicalization. Oh never mind Dylann Roof...nothing to see here. That talk will not be back until the next Dylann Roof.

[brooklynite]

7. Consider the growth of "lone wolf" terrorists...

Dylann Roof didn't generate any "specific, credible intelligence" before shooting up the Church.

Add to which, why would the Obama Administration want to spread unwarranted fear?