TOM RIDGE CONFESSES, TERROR ALERTS WERE MANIPULATED!

Icheoku says, his confession is simply a ploy to hype and sell his upcoming book; so, do not fall for it. Instead, just boycott the book, do not buy it! Protest the frequent rides of the American people by politicians and government officials, particularly this unwarranted 'terror-alert level, code yo-yo', which drastically jeopardized our security and health. FYI:- The book comes out on September 1, 2009 and is titled, "The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... And How We Can Be Safe Again"?

He is not credible because when he was supposed to stand up and be counted, he capitulated and kept silent through elections 2004 to 2008 until now? The question is why did he not speak up and/or resign when it mattered most, when it would have made an impact; only to come now after the fact, to yak about events which he was a potential corroborator, whether tacitly or necessary implication? His options then were clear, either sign in with the plot or fall out in the cold, and he chose to stay in, a made-brother? When can't real men go to their graves with some privileged information rather than rat on confidences once shared?

Icheoku asks, to whom did Tom Ridge swear an oath of office to serve, - President George W. Bush or the American people? What about the inconveniences suffered by the American people, fearful of imminent danger to their lives and properties? What about the grandmas and grandpas who died just because their hearts could no longer withstand the frequent color-coded torture of impending "doom" to America? How about the inconveniences suffered going through airports as a result of added scrutiny of travelling passengers, many of who were nearly strip-searched because of heightened security alerts? How about economic activities that were affected because many people chose to remain indoors and not go to the malls to shop, afraid of possible terrorist attacks? What about cancelled flights and other travel plans? What about the psychological trauma suffered by the American people, who were hoodwinked by Tom Ridge and his inner-circle raising the security alert level unnecessarily and just for mundane things other the its intended objective?

Icheoku says, Tom Ridge committed 'treasonable felony' and should be arrested immediately and tried for jeopardizing the American people's life; and also for conspiracy to torment American people through frequent and unreasonable raising of the color-code, just because his Republican party wants to remain in power? Does this Tom Ridge know that what he 'conspired' to do created panic, tension and high-blood pressure in so many Americans, fearful that the terrorists are gonna get them? Does this guy, Tom Ridge, understand that what he just confessed to reduced him in the eyes of many Americans and that a true patriot will not be found dead around such devastating conspiracy? Does he know that by raising the security alert unreasonably, that he played into the hands of the terrorist whose primary objective is to keep Americans fearful? Where was this guy's loyalty?

Icheoku condemns Tom Ridge's action and calls on the American people not to support such a fraud by buying his book; they should reject same as the product of a fraudulent conspiracy, a made-up tales of unprovable dimension. Who is there to corroborate his account of what allegedly transpired between him, John Ashcroft and Donald Rumsfeld? Possibly it is a figment of his imagination, a tale by the moonlight, concocted to boost sales of his upcoming book? Why should this guy be rewarded with the purchase of his book when he was then advising Americans to stockpile on duct-tapes and plastics-sheets to seal their windows in case of a dirty-bomb attack? Who pays for the expenses incurred duct-taping our windows? Someone employed by tax-payers money to protect them, turned around to cause untoward panic and fear on his employers, just for a fickle reason to win an election for his boss? Why didn't this guy resign his office immediately or put up a seasoned protest; and because he did none of this, that makes him a traitor, a corroborator, an American hater and a political jobber who danced to any tune simply to keep his tab at the seat of power? Where was Tom's backbone to resist evil and call it for what it is? This will make American people to be more distraught with their government as the trust relationship was further tarnished with this confession; the chasm between the government and the governed further widens, and a cynical people are a less motivated people.

If according to his confessional, 'top aides to then-president George W. Bush pressured him to raise the "terror alert" level to sway the November 2004 US election', Icheoku asks, why did he not resign rather than become a corroborator in such a scheme to frighten the American people into running to President George W. Bush for cover and protection from the imaginary terrorist-wolves? It is our position that Tom Ridge waited too long to make this confession, which is now too little too late as the consequential damage caused were unquantifiable and cannot be fully repaired. Tom Ridge is simply put, a turn-coat who sold his war heroics for the office of the Home Land Security and did not stand up for the American people? Tom Ridge for the records, is a former governor of Pennsylvania and the first secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, created in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and other places.

Reacting to the bombshell dropped by Tom Ridge, one observer said, "Just like they did in Iraq, the Bush Administration manipulated intelligence to cause fear in the public to further its political goals". The allegation that such a top-dog of the Homeland Security department as Tom Ridge "was often blindsided during daily morning briefings with President George W. Bush as he was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings", we find quite absurd! Who then will be sitting in a meeting to discuss 'national security' matters without the head of the homeland security department? Icheoku says, whatever happens, please maintain your dignity, do not buy that book, do not be fooled twice as fool me once shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me. Ask yourself, how much is really too much to take that these people will continue to take the nation on a jolly-ride just for their personal and political aggrandisement?

In conclusion, Icheoku says, Tom Ridge's allegation that "they tried to make me do it" does not fly in the face of what is known by everyone as government's 'wag the dog' syndrome? It is our position that the elicitation never took place and if it did, it was with Tom's full acquiescence and cooperation and that he willingly acted on it. Those numerous, frivolous security color-coded alerts he declared during his tenure at the Homeland Security department bears this position out. He very much admitted same when on one occasion, he owned up to using a three-year old stale intelligence to cause an alert level to be raised; otherwise how else does one explain such randomness? Further, what did he do when he was allegedly prospected? Did he shout, raise an alarm, put a protest or even resign his office on grounds of irreconcilable differences or lack of free-hand to perform and discharge the duties of his office?

No, none of that happened and who is available to confirm his present allegation; except for the mentioned individuals who will at a future time, rightly deny it ever took place? It will then be his word against theirs; and every one of us will be back to square one, in our perplexity of the complexity and betrayals of what was once the Bush administration's inner circle? Icheoku says, he who keeps silence in matters where common sense dictates that he should have spoken up, raised some protest or alarm is ordinarily defined as a corroborator, and Tom Ridge aptly fits the template! So, please do not buy that book, it sucks and contains so many untruths!