Why are we at ‘orange alert’? Terrorism is actually at it’s lowest level since 1969

Acts of international terrorism fell by almost half from 2001 to 2002 — to the lowest figure since 1969.


“Most centers for the study of global terrorism report unprecedented calm. Their analysis is backed by the latest annual U.S. State Department report and an interim study, to be submitted next month to the G-8 summit in [the eastern French spa town of Evian]. There were 199 ‘acts of global terrorism’ in 2002. There were no acts of terror in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia, designated as special targets by Al-Qaeda.”

I first thought, “hey – we just invaded Iraq, of course terrorists are running scared!” But that makes no sense, because the data far predates our invasion. And even if you want to give credit to anti-terrorism activity, and want to argue that we need to remain vigilant, we should at least ask ourselves whether additional military measures and domestic law enforcement measures are necessary, when acts of terrorism are actually on the decline.

Meanwhile, in other good news, several states are repealing Sunday liquor sales bans.