ALERT(s). You know you want this on a Friday night, but with news that @DHSgov is now considering a change to the threat level, let me take you on a little tour of the color code system, the politics of fear, and how we are still so bad at differentiating threats. 1/
I've been critical of analysts and politicians today who can't seem to make distinctions between heightened threats abroad and here, and most Iran experts believe Iran's focus will be in the region or in cyber space. I concur with that. 2/
The color code system no longer exists. We dumped it in Obama Admin. Instead, we put into place a NTAS (National Advisory Terrorism System) which would provide content on risks, recommendations on response, and not be so ridiculed. 3/
There's a long history of the color code system, how it was originally designed (for first responders only), how it made no sense and was subject to abuse. I love this stuff so wonk out on this people. dhs.gov/xlibrary/asset…
4/
4/
NTAS allows for an "elevated" and "imminent" alert but to date those haven't even been invoked; we didn't do it during Boston Marathon thought considered it. So, generally, NTAS serves as an intelligence briefer, and comes out periodically. Last one was in July. 5/
Today's potential change to NTAS seems correct (hear me out) though it is odd to have had the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security state hours before that there is no credible threat to homeland (also true). It's a messy message and one that @dhsgov should have mentioned. 6/
But as reported, the NTAS that may be issued is focused on where it ought to be: airports abroad (TSA presence, a DHS component), international maritime (Coast Guard, another DHS component), and 7/
cyber vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure, such as electrical grids or dams. DHS also has jurisdiction of regs covering the private sector owned critical infrastructure and vulnerabilities of the .com domain -- as compared to .mil which DOD governs. 8/
This possible NTAS does not appear to be an "elevated" announcement, but more intelligence analysis of where DHS and Iranian threats may converge. 9/
Anyway, I'm critical of the #Suleimani killing, but I wouldn't respond to a new NTAS in any freaked out way; it's exactly what it was designed to do after the disaster of color code system.
Nobody will listen to me. Still, I feel better. @cnn later 10/10
Nobody will listen to me. Still, I feel better. @cnn later 10/10
