Ridge On Record As Disagreeing With BushCo On Raising Threat Levels In 2005

Bush administration officials are predictably blasting Tom Ridge for revelations in his new book that he was pressured to raise terror alerts as a 2004 election ploy.  Former Press Secretary Scott McClellan says Ridge had better be able to back his claims.  But McClellan also says:

“There is no question exploiting the war on terror was viewed by the political strategists as integral to branding the president as a strong and decisive leader who will keep America safe.”

Ridge said in 2005, at the time he resigned, that he often disagreed with the administration on the need to raise terror alert levels.

The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says.

Ridge, who resigned Feb. 1, said Tuesday that he often disagreed with administration officials who wanted to elevate the threat level to orange, or “high” risk of terrorist attack, but was overruled.

[…]

… There were times when some people were really aggressive about raising it, and we said, ‘For that?’ “

While it was previously reported that Ridge had disagreements about the need to raise threat levels, he hadn’t previously said the push to raise them was politically motivated.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.