Ridge Hints at Imminent Reduction in Threat Alert

By David Willman

Feb. 17, 2003 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON —

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Sunday that the government soon may reduce its announced threat level from orange, indicating a “high probability” of a terrorist attack, to yellow, or an “elevated” risk.

The Bush administration raised the level last week, based on unspecified information reviewed by authorities here.

The heightened alert had triggered wide concern in Washington and New York -- the two cities feared to be most at risk -- as many residents rushed to buy duct tape and plastic sheeting to fortify their homes against a potential chemical or biological attack.

But on Sunday, Ridge suggested that the threat level may go back to yellow “within 24 to 48 hours,” in part because officials had believed that the greatest chance for an attack was during the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The hajj ended Thursday. In appearances on several Sunday talk shows, Ridge also acknowledged doubts about the “accuracy” of at least some of the intelligence tips that formed the basis for last week’s shift to the heightened alert level.

“[We] realized that some of the information that we acted upon ... from time to time does not prove to be as accurate as we thought it was,” Ridge said on CNN’s “Late Edition,” adding: “One of the problems associated with the intelligence community is you don’t always have easy access to the sources of information you are acting on.”

Confirming his belief that Washington and New York remain “on any terrorist’s short list,” Ridge said it would be “very appropriate” to consider announcing differing threat levels for different cities or parts of the country.

“I think there will come a time when we’re able to do precisely that,” Ridge said.

The government announced the five-step, color-coded terror alert system in March. Green and blue indicate the lowest threats, while red means that an attack could be imminent. Since the system’s introduction, the level has remained at yellow with two exceptions: for two weeks in September, around the first anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and now. Both times the level was raised one step, to orange.

Ridge, a Republican who formerly served as governor of Pennsylvania, also defended the Bush administration’s commitment to provide local authorities with adequate resources to respond to the range of terrorist threats. Ridge’s comments came after leading Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, last week criticized the administration’s focus on a possible war against Iraq instead of on the threat of domestic terrorism.

Ridge said there are “billions and billions more” for states and local governments within President Bush’s proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2004.

“If [both parties] are concerned about getting money out for the governors and the mayors and first responders [to terrorist attack], then let’s get this budget through as quickly as possible,” Ridge said.

Three mayors, including Democrat Willie Brown of San Francisco, said that the federal government needs to do far more.

“I’m not sure how much longer we can continue to do the federal government’s bidding,” Brown said on “Late Edition.”

The mayor of Baltimore, Democrat Martin O’Malley, said his city has spent “almost $12 million” on security costs in the last 17 months, while receiving “less than $1 million” from Washington.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Threat levels

The government announced this color-coded terrorism-alert system in March.

* Red

Severe risk

The highest level of alert, it signals that an attack is believed to be imminent.

* Orange

High risk (current level)

* Yellow

Significant risk

The most common assessment level since the ratings system was introduced.

* Blue