From todays NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/03/po...3intel.html?hp

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -Much of the information that led the authorities to raise the terror alert at several large financial institutions in the New York City and Washington areas was three or four years old, intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Monday. They reported that they had not yet found concrete evidence that a terrorist plot or preparatory surveillance operations were still under way.
The story does go on to state that Al-Qaeda has taken years on their projects.
My question comes down to two possible coincidences.

First. Two days after Kerry picked Edwards as his running mate Homeland Security director Tom Ridge holds a press conference to warn of undisclosed threats. Yet the FBI which meets with Ridge along with the CIA said they were not told of his press conference and no new info was discussed at that meeting. And that the FBI and CIA were not told he was doing a press conference that day. (btwThe CIA doesn't comment about anything). So a person could ask was this a way to capture news time away from Kerry-Edwards.

Second. Two days after the Democratice National Convention, Security director Tom Ridge holds a press conference to warn of possible attacks. The Times has a story saying there was little if any new information came in.

Regardless of what happened in these two cases what would be your reaction to find an admistration (Bush, Kerry, whoever) had attempted to use terror alerts for political gain?
Do you feel that it should be a crime?