What is the point of releasing these warnings or alert changes
publically ?

Many people are unaware that the five-color alert system was
borrowed 100% from the military's DefCon (defense condition)
system of readiness. The system makes sense for the military, as
each level has definite meaning. To be only slight facetious, here
are examples:
- 5: guards at military bases are allowed to sleep on duty
- 4: guards are required to carry ammunition, but not to load it into
their weapon
- 3: guards are ordered to load ammunition into their weapons, but
not to point their weapons at people
- 2: guards are ordered to search all vehicles using their weapons
to stop vehicles, and can shoot if vehicles do not stop
- 1: guards are ordered to shoot everyone trying to enter the base

Actually #1 is not far from the truth. That said, the system makes
absolutely no sense to civilians and news media types. But since
dubya is a closet warrior, he loves that stuff.


Casey