On entering into August many places in the USA are caught in a big heat with "Anti-terrorism" warning to see a sudden warm-up. On Aug.1, Ridge, US Secretary of Homeland Security suddenly announced that it was likely for financial institutions in New York, Washington and some other places to be attacked by "Al-Qaeda" and so the threat warning was raised to orange. In an instant, New York and Washington were thrown into a panic as though faced with an attack by a strong enemy.

Aug.5, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested two heads of a mosque in Albany, New York State, asserting that they were suspected to be in connection with the "Al-Qaeda" and planned to buy for terrorists shoulder-carried guided missiles. That would be used to attack the Pakistani diplomats to New York because Pakistan had assisted the US attacks at terrorist activities.

Aug. 6, the US eastern and western shores, even including the two Canadian provinces launched a simulated 5-day anti-terrorist manoeuvre with over 4000 people to take tart in and it was under the command of the US North America Commanding Headquarters and North America Air-Force Defence Headquarters. The manoeuvre was set off with the explosion of a "dirt bomb" at a port of Los Angles while the California in the west and Virginia in the east had in succession suffered from simulated terrorist attacks. The imagined targets include cruise vessel, bridge, shopping mall and elementary school, causing a casualty of 1000 people and some 10,000 people wounded.

Some analysts hold that the sudden alarm sounded by the US authority was meant for creating a tension and the main reason for it was because the fame of Kerry was raised at the National Party Conference of the Democratic Party. Bush was not willing to surrender lagging behind hence he put forth the "brilliant idea". In the eyes of Bush's group for election campaign the support rate in the public poll will be sure to get higher once Bush holds high the banner of "safety & security". For "most of the Americans believe that on the question ��for safety and security' Bush and his Republican Party is more steadfast and reliable" than Kerry and his Democratic Party. However, the recent public poll held by the AP made Bush and his camp feel disheartened. Among those accepted the interview, Kerry got 48 percent support while Bush only got 45 percent. Moreover, on the question of state security, the support for Kerry witnessed a higher rise of 8 percent as compared to the previous one for these people thought that Kerry could do better on the affairs for the state security.

The main reasons for the rise of scores for Kerry on the security problem lie as follows: First of all the play of the "safety card" is not quite skillful, betraying quite some flaws. The official sound of the threat warming was not well grounded. On the very day when the warning of threat was raised to orange the media exposed by saying that the information of the Department of Homeland Security was already outdated, was deliberately making things look mysterious and skeptical "for political purposes". This was followed with the arresting of the suspected terrorists, launching a large-scale anti-terrorist manoeuvre and emphasized repeatedly "it's better to believe it rather than not." In spite of these remedial measures it was still difficult to take effect. And in a nationwide broadcasting speech on Aug.7 Bush was still haranguing for his upgrading of the threat warning.

The other is that it has roused a big rumpus, harassed the people and wasted a lot of money, making people feel it disgusted. For the US local governments and the ordinary people there should be no upgrade of the threat warning by the Federal government if not absolutely necessary. Because for most of the local governments who are in financial stringency and the majority of taxpayers the more input of manpower and material resources and for "self-seeking trouble" is as much as "to buy for inconvenience". For Washington the capital city, since the upgrade of the threat warning, more barriers have been set up round the main government organs and traffic hinges while the Capitol Hill has been warded off as though it were in an "iron bucket". About this the media said that the situation was so much as to make people feel choking. Around the main sections and streets by the Capitol Hill, 14 safety checkpoints were set up with police dogs to watch closely by. Car-drivers have to line up for a checkup and some even have to show identity cards including auto-keys to cops to make a "checkup", thus making the jammed traffic even more congested and many subways are delayed due to the checkup. Many people feel very much fatigued and especially on hearing that the information was outdated, inaccurate and inexact they feel much more grudged, including Williams, the mayor of Washington. All these controlling measures will be sure to affect the local commercial and travel businesses. "Even though there are some doubts the freedom of the people has to be ensured." This is a wrong signal by the Federal government for tourists and local people, criticized some responsible persons of the major communities in Washington D.C and will have some aftereffects in the years to come.

Bush Administration using too frequent the "intelligence" may cause the "warning weary", said an ex-anti-terrorist official of the State Department, "This is the fifth time that we've heard such a warning". "But nothing has happened so far. I'm afraid that people will get tired of it."

Moreover, Kerry and Bill Clinton poured oil over the fire. For days on end, Kerry has been playing with the "safety card" too. He sang in chorus with the ex-president Bill Clinton, slashing heavily that Bush failed to do well on protecting the security of the state. He said Bush was too dull and slow to react on the anti-terrorist activities. Citing what is said in the movie "Fahrenheit 9/11", Bush was reading to the pupils of a Florida elementary school after the happening of the terrorist event. And when he received the report he stood dumbfounded for some seven minutes in the classroom before his leaving. Kerry said he would have taken a prompt action if he were the president. He also criticized that Bush was likewise too slow on the intelligence reform. And the other is that Bush failed to lay his anti-terrorist emphasis on catching Bin Laden and setting attacks on the "Al-Qaeda" but on attacking Iraq instead. Clinton chimed in by saying that with regard to the threat for the US, Saddam Hussein could only be put in the fifth place. And the third is that the two of them unanimously lashed out that the invasion of Iraq has not only damaged the US anti-terrorist war but also roused up more terrorists, thus putting the US in a more unsecured position.

Surely, Bush is not reconciled to it and he's still defending himself. However, it seems not easy to win in the play.

By People's Daily Online