Terrorist threat advisory system takes fire at hearing

A House Government Reform subcommittee chairman warned on Tuesday that the current use of the color-coded terrorist-threat system is lulling people into complacency.

National Security Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Shays, R-Conn., told a hearing that more specific information on threats and protective measures must accompany the threat levels unless security otherwise would be compromised.

"Seeing no difference between a perpetually 'elevated' state of risk 'code yellow' and a 'high' risk of terrorism at 'code orange,' Americans risk becoming color blind to the signals that are supposed to prompt public awareness and action," he said.

The risk level has been raised and lowered from yellow to orange five times without specific information.

"We need to make terrorism alerts at least as targeted and accurate as storm projections," Shays said.

Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Patrick Hughes defended the system but said it is evolving.