Citing the “environment” of threat created by ISIS, the Pentagon has announced an increase in its FPCON security level from Alpha to Bravo. Spokesmen confirmed there is no specific threat.
The Pentagon had previously done this in September 2011, in the lead-up to the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, on the theory that al-Qaeda would probably like to do something then.
The FPCON levels dictate the level of security at military bases in different theaters of operation. The move from Alpha to Bravo means that two military base IDs must be shown to enter, and that there will be more intense inspections of vehicles entering the base.
The next step up, Charlie, only happens if an attack is imminent, and dramaticlaly restricts traffic to bases. There is a further level, Delta, which is in place only during an actual attack.
The theoretical FPCON Normal level is below Alpha, and puts the base on a security level similar to an ordinary US city, with security only of the level meant to stop the average criminal. With the Pentagon pretty much always talking up some threat or other, Normal is not likely to be declared.
05/16/2014 Spying Is Meant to Crush Citizens’ Dissent, Not Catch Terrorists
Preface: NSA Lied When It Said It Doesn’t Record Content Last week, Washington Post reporter Barton Gellman – who has reviewed many of the documents leaked by Ed Snowden – told PBS’ Frontline: Who’s e-mailing whom? Who’s texting whom? Who’s doing Skype calls with whom?
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-05-16/s…
What a bunch of pansies. So much for the Uber-tough-guy image of the vaunted U.S. of A Military Dynasty. Their own creation haunts them.
BTW, Washington76, if the Republicans are so upset about Hillary's deleted emails, just call the NSA, I'm sure they have copies.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Parts of the Patriot Act are due to expire shortly so I suspect this ratcheting of the fear factor might have something tangential to the effort to renew without thinking. Also, the fact that ISIS is pretty much a consequence (intended or not) of Bush's adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming HOME to roost, even if ISIS isn't. Once you go down the road of taking away rights and freedoms because of some perceived threat, you will never get them back – and it will lead eventually to a state of slaves.
We are well on the way down the rabbit hole.
Gawd, have to say I like the military lingo better than the Color Code. Doesn't make the DHS more credible, but it does demonstrate at least an understanding of Morse Code, is it?
Sue S