Chertoff’s ‘gut feeling’

July 11, 2007

The Department of Homeland Security has been subjected to quite a bit of ridicule in recent years, particularly when it comes to its color-coded threat level chart.

Of course, the alert levels are clear and concise when compared to the insights of Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff (or, as the president called him, “Homeland guy“), who yesterday warned of an increased risk of a domestic terrorist attack.

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the editorial board of The Chicago Tribune that he had a “gut feeling” about a new period of increased risk.

He based his assessment on earlier patterns of terrorists in Europe and intelligence he would not disclose.

“Summertime seems to be appealing to them,” Chertoff said in his discussion with the newspaper about terrorists. “We worry that they are rebuilding their activities.”

He added, “I believe we are entering a period this summer of increased risk.”

I suppose Chertoff thinks it’s helpful to have a public official in his position sharing his hunches with the public, but what, exactly, are Americans supposed to take away from comments like these? The Director of Homeland Security, who hasn’t done much to impress anyone, has a “gut feeling”? He “believes” the summer “seems” to be appealing to terrorists?

As Maureen Dowd noted, Chertoff came across “sounding more like a meteorologist than the man charged with keeping us safe.”

At least meteorologists rely on evidence before telling the public what to expect. Chertoff, perhaps inspired by Stephen Colbert, is sharing notions that come from his “gut.”

I feel safer already.

Michael J.W. Stickings had a good post explaining how irresponsible Chertoff is being with his careless remarks.

And his basis for such a bold assertion, for such “worry”? New intelligence? Suspicious chatter? A confession, perhaps from a tortured detainee?

Er, no. For Chertoff, it’s “a gut feeling,” that’s all.

Which is outrageous, is it not — and not a little irresponsible? This is the homeland security secretary warning Americans of an increase in the terrorist threat, playing on some of their deepest fears, based not on genuine intelligence assessments, but on a “feeling” — and one in his “gut,” what’s more.

Two years ago, former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge acknowledged that the Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks based on flimsy evidence. “There were times when some people were really aggressive about raising it, and we said, ‘For that?'” Ridge told reporters.

In this sense, we’re regressing. The administration is leaving the alert level where it is, but the head of DHS is scaring people with his “gut feelings.”

Update: Committee on Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson let Chertoff have it today. “Words have power, Mr. Secretary,” Thompson said. “You must choose them wisely — especially when they relate to the lives and security of the American public. What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a ‘gut feeling’?”

Chertoff’s ‘gut feeling’

Yes, that was precious. Hopefully, he does have a good nose for the business though and is doing an excellent job of keeping us safe, even if he does invoke his gut feelings on stuff like this. Just on the face of it, it sounds like entrail-reading augury or something– doesn’t inspire confidence. I would like the guy to be more like Sherlock Holmes.

  • Chertoff needs to listen less to his gut and actually do something productive, like mounting AA on or near nuclear power generators and actually thinking about threats that could attract Al Qaeda and potentially kill a lot of people.

    I’ll bet that the airline industry is happy about his comments, but screw them.

  • I have a “gut feeling” that our Constitutional Republic is going down in flames unless the international criminals that have hijacked American Democracy are impeached and removed.

    Too bad we couldn’t devote all the resources that are embezzled and channeled into the Cheney Protectorate of Iraq/n to improving American National Security and preventing another mass-terror frame-up on American soil.

  • Well, I’m sure the WH will pay much more attention to “gut feelings” than they did to PDB’s with titles like “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US.”

    And, surely, “gut feelings” will have more credibility than “hair on fire.”

    How pathetic is it that we’ve come to the point where “gut feelings” are elevated – by the media – to the level of actual intelligence?

  • By this time next year the Yellow Alerts to Red should be coming weekly and by election time on a daily basis. The Republican party or Pat B has labeled it “the War Party” would prefer that the dominate political discussion be about the threat to America in whatever form they can imagine.

  • His guts have probably just been inflamed of late by the prospect of being out of a job, put under oath, and perhaps packed off to prison with the rest of his criminal gang.

  • Chertoff is the boy who cried “wolf.”

    If this administration actually had reliable intelligence about heightened risk of terrorism in the US, the public wouldn’t believe them any more. They have squandered all of their credibility.

  • How large in Chertoff’s gut, anyway? Since his head looks like a cadaver’s, his “gut” is probably very, very small, and so, not worth consulting. I’d trust Teddy Kennedy’s “gut”, or Jack Murtha’s more, wouldn’t you?

  • Yawn. Another summer, another vague Warning! Warning! Warning! from DHS. However, that uneasy feeling in Chertoff’s digestive tract is caused by grabbing ankles for The Deciderator on a regular basis.

    Yes, Mr. Squirtoff, we know there are terrorist out there (domestic and foreign), yes we know THEY WANT TO KILL US, yes your warning is about as useful as your Rainbow of Danger.

    I wonder if anyone asked about all those unfilled vacancies at DHS.

  • FWIW, skeletor was counsel for the R’s when they defended the country from oral sex back in the 90s

  • We could have used Chertoff’s spidey sense during Katrina when thousands of people were stuck in the convention center w/o the DHS knowing about it. Actually, Chertoff’s gut feeling after Katrina was that everything was fine and we had “dodged a bullet”. Let’s hope he starts listening to his trick knee instead of his gut.

  • “Summertime seems to be appealing to them,” Chertoff said in his discussion with the newspaper about terrorists.”

    Should that say that summertime is appealing to DHS instead? They wait until it’s peak air travel – vacation, etc. to announce their latest “terror” tactic on the public. Shouldn’t they be making up some ridiculous air travel restrictions right about now? Let’s see, we’ve got shoes, lighters, liquids. I vote for hair brushes and combs next.

  • Bernie Thompson rebuts the gut.

    Over the past five years, tens of billions of taxpayer dollars have been dedicated to standing up and building capacity at the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with deterring, preventing and responding to the threat of terrorism. To that end, systems have been erected to identify risks and communicate them to the American public. With all the resources you have at your disposal and all the progress that you assure us that you are making, I cannot understand why you are quoted in the Chicago Tribune as saying you have a “gut feeling” that we are entering a period of heightened risk this summer.
    Words have power, Mr. Secretary. You must choose them wisely—especially when they relate to the lives and security of the American public. What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a “gut feeling?” What sectors should be on alert as a result of your “gut feeling?” What cities should be asking their law enforcement to work double shifts because of your “gut feeling?” Are the American people supposed to purchase duct tape and plastic sheeting because of your “gut feeling?”

    The Committee on Homeland Security has repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting specific, actionable information to our first preventers in law enforcement and other emergency response providers. I urge you to follow up on your “gut feeling” and share whatever information our nation’s first preventers need to be on alert and prepared. Otherwise, we run the risk of communities taking it upon themselves to mobilize for every possible threat. This not only would result in communities depleting their scarce homeland security resources but runs contrary to your efforts to move toward a risk-based approach to homeland security.

    This fall, we will be marking the sixth anniversary of the most deadly terrorist attack on U.S. soil. With likely action on legislation to implement the unfinished business of the 9/11 Commission, Congress is poised to give you more and better opportunities to work with law enforcement in a constructive manner.

    Mr. Secretary, I urge you to clarify your comments by providing concrete direction to the State, local and tribal stakeholders and if necessary make the required changes to the Nation’s threat level to ensure that the American public can take the necessary steps to protect their families, businesses and communities.

    I would be happy to convene a classified briefing of our Members to discuss the threat to our nation if you believe that such a briefing is warranted.

    Sincerely,

    Bennie G. Thompson

  • People…get real…Bush needs a reason to attack Iran.
    Now isn’t everyone walking around with a “gut feeling” since Bush just sent the THIRD aircraft carrier to the Persian gulf, especially since Bush bragged he will make it impossible for the next president to leave Iraq. Just how does he plan to do that.
    Maybe Chertoff is warning us the only way he can…with a gut feeling.
    Of course Congress states that bush must get permission before he can attack Iran…Yeah, right.
    It’s no longer a question of does Bush have the authority to do it but rather does Bush have the “power” to do it.
    Yeah, I’ve got a gut feeling too….Everyday I live in fear of my president…of what he might do next. I am powerless because of a congress that feels impeachment is just “a waste of time”

  • What color code in the Homeland Security Advisory System is associated with a ‘gut feeling’?”

    Brown, of course. It’s that part of the gut.

  • Bjobotts @21 is right. Chertoffs gut only has to be right once, and W is looking for any reason to attack iran. And don’t forget his new supercool extraordinary executive powers to declare a state of emergency and take over the government. They also have more means to take out public dissenters and put us away in that event also. And those brand spankin new internment camps.

    On the lighter side of this, Chertoff does a gut check and gets the heeby-jeebies. Bush does everything following his gut feelings. This reminds me of some voodoo high priestess reading chicken entrails to tell the future. Except here we have a zombie skeletor reading chicken-hawk entrails to keep the public afraid.

    But now, we’re more afraid of our government than we our of Al-Q.

  • NPR helpfully explained to me this morning that I needn’t “panic” because of this new threat assessment. Panic? Because something kinda sorta thinks that something possibly maybe might happen somewhere, sometime, somehow?

    If the American people truly panic because of idiocy like that, then we’ve already lost.

  • Chertoff is a rat. He doesn’t give a damn about our borders being secure. He wanted amnesty for illegal aliens. Now were suppose to believe that he has a “gut feeling.” We’ll I have more than a gut feeling that illegal aliens are flowing like water into this country. His job is to keep Americans afraid that the boggie man is coming to get them just so we will give up more of our liberties.

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