# State Dept. feeding paranoia, irking me immensely **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009 "2002-03-19T06:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/1 "2002-03-19T06:37:10Z")
In my e-mail inbox yesterday: "PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman Worldwide Caution March 17, 2002 The U.S. Government continues to receive credible reports that extremist individuals are planning additional terrorist actions against U.S. interests. Such actions may be imminent and include suicide operations. We have no further information on specific targets, timing or method of attack. We remind American citizens to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution. " These warnings have been continuing since about September 10. How am I supposed to read this? There are these constant warnings and urgings to remain vigilant, but we hear absolutely no details as to why. I live in a place where I don’t have to worry about terrorism too much, just the occasional taepodong missile cruising overhead. It’s better to tell people to be “vigilant” and all than to regret not having said it after something has happened, but I feel like I’m being used like bait. Is it impossible to get some kind of disclosure?! Sure there’s the matter of intelligence sensitivity, but when you say “Watch out!” tell me what the hell I’m watching out for! Four years ago when the FUCKING MISSILE went flying over my house, I didn’t hear JACK from you guys! Now I’m supposed to be vigilant?! OK, sure, but what the hell for? (kuroashi is feeling like a mushroom these days - kept in the dark and fed lots of shit) ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/2 "2002-03-19T06:59:58Z")
What they mean is that, at any moment, **Wildest Bill** could jump out from behind a bush and shout, “GOTCHA YA!” Esprix ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/3 "2002-03-19T07:08:08Z")
You know, that’s pretty bullshit **Esprix**. **Wildest Bill** is banned and everything. He’s no longer a threat to you, or anyone esle around here. The continued reference to the guy is getting pretty. He’s gone. Let it drop. Now, on to the OP, I don’t know about anyone else, but screw the State Department and all the nonsense their up to, I wanna here more about that missile! ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/4 "2002-03-19T07:11:48Z")
You know it wouldn’t be one of my post if I didn’t include all of it in one post. That should read, “… is getting pretty **old**.” Having to correct it kinda makes it lose it’s zoom, if you ask me, but the thought is still there- let it go already, will ya? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/5 "2002-03-19T07:12:04Z")
Well, I am mightily pissed-off 'cos I didn’t get a message! I LIKE having a reason to be paranoid (or at least a passable excuse). What do you have to do to recieve such privileged information from the US State Dept anyway? ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/6 "2002-03-19T07:23:26Z")
**kambuckta** , you read right through me. I got the message on my work computer through a community message service in Sapporo. You can probably get on a list by getting in contact with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate office. **CnoteChris** , N.Korea shot off three taepodong missiles in August 1998, two of which landed in the Sea of Japan (that’s between Japan and the Korean Peninsula), the third of which flew over my house and landed in the Pacific. Nobody said much about it. It was almost as if nothing had happened. When asked, a N.Korean official said that they were launching satellites. At that time, the Clinton Administration (seems so long ago now) was decidedly NOT being confrontational with N.Korea. I have more reasons to be nervous now than four years ago, with a president full of rhetoric and vitriol. I wanna know if I should run off to Siberia to avoid nuclear holocaust, or just buy myself a good sword ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/7 "2002-03-19T11:38:49Z")
**kuroashi** , I totally agree. Every one of these alerts is always the most urgent one ever, regarding **the** most credible threat, and superceding the previous most dire warning. I mean, I want the military/government/Ridge and his crew to do everything they can to provide security, and I’m not claiming that their vigilance is unnecessary. But as Linus once said, “What can we, as individuals, do?” > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by CnoteChris_ **You know it wouldn’t be one of my post if I didn’t include all of it in one post.** I believe you mean “if I included all of it in one post”. Anyway, I will not join you in your objection. “Gotcha Ya!” still makes me laugh; it’s one of the immortal SD references. Carry on, **Esprix**! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/8 "2002-03-19T14:20:48Z")
As someone pointed out a few months ago, to do this makes great sense for the State Department. If something happens, they will get credit for the early warning; if nothing happens, they will get credit for being on guard. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/9 "2002-03-19T17:20:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > **I believe you mean “if I included all of it in one post”.** Why yes, that’s exactly what I meant. Thanks. And while we’re being all nice and helpful to each other here, let me return the favor. I think this- > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by CnoteChris_ **You know it wouldn’t be one of my post if I didn’t include all of it in one post.** was supposed to look like this- > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by CnoteChris_ > **know it wouldn’t be one of my post if I didn’t include all of it in one post.** Teamwork, you gotta love it! (\*Pssst- I think you forgot to hit return after **CnoteChris** ) Onwards and upwards. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rilchiam_ > **Anyway, I will not join you in your objection. “Gotcha Ya!” still makes me laugh; it’s one of the immortal SD references.** An inside joke, made at the expense of a guy who’s been banned for months now, who not only couldn’t defend himself back when he was banned, but who can’t now, either. That’s always nice. I, for one, don’t get the reference. I assume it has something to do with what he used to do, or wanted to do, or… Shoot, I don’t know. I don’t get it. That’s the problem with these inside jokes, not everyone will get them. In fact, if I could be so bold, most people won’t (Kinda the point of an inside joke, I guess). What’s left for us, those of us who miss the wit and humor of it all, is a potshot at a previous poster who’s now banned. If it turns your crank, go for it. In the big scheme of things, it isn’t anything important enough to sidetrack this guys thread over. Which, I should add, I should probably get back to. **kuroashi** - Why are you getting these alerts, way over there in Korea, warning you of homeland defense, while back here, in the good US of A, all I ever get are e-mails urging me to turn my wanker into a club? What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/10 "2002-03-19T18:24:53Z")
This sounds like a wonderful hijack for a Pit thread. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/11 "2002-03-20T10:24:52Z")
Japan, not Korea. And the State Dept. is looking out for us ex-pats as well. I was actually thinking about that Linus line earlier today, funny it pops up again I’d love to actually do something. Maybe I’ll quit this job earlier than I was planning to. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/12 "2002-03-20T10:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kuroashi \* > \*\*I was actually thinking about that Linus line earlier today, funny it pops up again. \*\* No kidding! You a big Schulz fan? I am! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/13 "2002-03-20T10:41:32Z")
And I’ve finally decided on a sig! ---
**Author:** ![kuroashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9a140/32.png) [@kuroashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kuroashi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/14 "2002-03-20T10:53:39Z")
I had a “Peanuts” lunchbox from kindergarten to 3rd grade. Maybe I’ll go with a Snoopy line for my sig. AAAAAAAAAAAaaahahaaaaaaaaaaaa! better than the one I’ve got anyway. heh, aided in the hijacking of my own thread :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/15 "2002-03-20T11:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*As someone pointed out a few months ago, to do this makes great sense for the State Department. If something happens, they will get credit for the early warning; if nothing happens, they will get credit for being on guard. \*\* There is a danger in that. Each time they give a warning, and nothinjg happens, I pay less attention to them. Kind of a ‘boy who cried wolf’ thing… ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/16 "2002-03-20T18:30:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*There is a danger in that. Each time they give a warning, and nothinjg happens, I pay less attention to them. Kind of a ‘boy who cried wolf’ thing… \*\* I agree. Are any of us really changing how we live our life whenever we hear one of these new warnings. I think we are all painfully aware after 9/11 that we are, and always will be vulnerable to these attacks. The fact is that it is virtually impossible to eliminate the threat, regardless of what changes we make to airport security and the protection of our borders. It seems that these warnings continue to occur to emphasize the importance of this open-ended war. Don’t get me wrong, I feel the war in Afghanistan was completely necessary and justified but things get a little hazy after that. I question whether these warnings and the war in general isn’t designed to keep the presidents popularity ratings high until at least 2004. In other words, the more threatened people feel, the more they support the vague “war on terrorism”. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/17 "2002-03-21T00:45:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\* > Why are you getting these alerts, way over there in Korea, warning you of homeland defense, while back here, in the good US of A, all I ever get are e-mails urging me to turn my wanker into a club? > > What’s up with that? \*\* If I may chime in here–All of the alerts I’ve heard have specifically mentioned those Americans living overseas. They’ve warned against congregating in bars, restaurants, etc. that are frequented by Americans. What I take from that is that while they aren’t anticipating any more structure-seeking airliners here in the states, they aren’t ruling out some wacko walking into a building overseas filled with Americans and causing a bit of trouble. It makes sense that any kind of offensive at this point (unlikely if you ask me, at least from Osama and friends) would be fairly low tech and probably carried out locally (terrorist’s locally). Hence, Americans who are away from home get specific warnings while we here in the states are permitted to go about merrily turning our genetalia into clubs. bella ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-dept-feeding-paranoia-irking-me-immensely/99009/18 "2002-03-21T07:41:45Z")
Well, it may not have been the day of the warning, and quite possibly isn’t connected to it at all, but [a car bomb was detonated near the US embassy in Peru](http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/03/21/peru.embassy.blast/index.html). Again, I don’t know if this is in any relation to this warning, but it does remind us (if any of us needed reminding, that is) that we are still a favorite target of terrorism.