Proposal: Color Codes of Complicity

After September 11, the new Office of Fatherl-, er, Homeland Security created a color-code chart to indicate the level of a terror alert. Seeing as how there are a range of opinions about what the Bush Administration knew about the impending September 11 attacks, I though it might be a good idea to use another color chart to indicate the level of “foreknowledge” the government had.

Which condition do you think was true?

WHITE – Total innocence. The government had no idea at all that any terrorists would strike the United States. (By this point no one should believe this.)

YELLOW – On the trail of suspicions. The government or parts of it were aware that something was going down, but they couldn’t figure out the details.

ORANGE – Allowing a crime. The government could figure out some of the details of the pending attack, but thought it would be a simple hijacking. Thinking that no one (except the hijackers) would be hurt, some members of the government allowed it to happen. They did this to scare the public into accepting repressive domestic legislation, a military arms build-up, and a war against Afghanistan.

RED – Allowing a disaster. Like orange, except the government - or parts of it - knew that the planes would be flown into buildings. They let it happen just the same.

BLACK – Treason. The government or some parts of it actually planned or instigated the September 11 attacks.

You can probably come up with gradations of “dark” and “light” within each color, if you have subcategories of scenarios.

Use this as a shorthand when indicating your position. “I believe yellow,” etcetera.