Politics

Updated July 13, 2009

Obama to Review Nation's Color-Coded Terror Alert System

by  

AP

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to appoint a panel to reevaluate the system and determine whether it should be changed, or possibly eliminated.

WASHINGTON -- A senior U.S. official says the Obama administration will announce Tuesday that it will review the nation's multicolored terror alert system that was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is expected to appoint a panel to reevaluate the system and determine whether it should be changed, or possibly eliminated.

The five-tiered system that goes from green, which signals a low danger of attack, to red, which signals a severe threat of attack, has proven to be confusing at times. Critics say the different colors are too vague to deliver enough information to be useful.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made public.

Latest   Politics Videos

Real  Clear Politics Poll

Job Approval Approve Disapprove Spread
Obama 50.4% 43.6% +6.8%
Congress 27.0% 64.3% -37.3%
Direction of Country Right Direction Wrong Track Spread
RCP Average 38.0% 57.2% -19.2%

Most  Active In Politics