The old system of threat levels with various colours including Black Special was not exactly straightforward. However, we now have a new system of identifying a threat level.
These new categories are:
The current UK Threat level is Severe
We have now had about 5 years of the "war on terror". During that period the combined actions of the UK and US governments have been to create additional global hatreds such that now the situation is far worse than it was.
Dealing with actions in an asymmetric conflict is quite different to that in a symmetric conflict. Whereas there is a good argument that you need to be tough in dealing with law breaking where it is about self-interest. It is quite clear that, unless the underlying issues are dealt with, situations that result in terrorist attacks will continue to do so.
Furthermore if disproportionate acts are taken to deal with such conflict we actually end up with greater conflict and more acts of terror than otherwise.
That is why International Humanitarian Law has been developed over the years. If states follow those rules then it is possible to resolve conflicts without waiting for generations. The actions today of Bush and Blair will generate hatreds that will last for generations.
These new categories are:
| Low | An attack is unlikely |
| Moderate | An attack is possible, but not likely |
| Substantial | An attack is a strong possibility |
| Severe | An attack is highly likely |
| Critical | An attack is expected imminently |
The current UK Threat level is Severe
We have now had about 5 years of the "war on terror". During that period the combined actions of the UK and US governments have been to create additional global hatreds such that now the situation is far worse than it was.
Dealing with actions in an asymmetric conflict is quite different to that in a symmetric conflict. Whereas there is a good argument that you need to be tough in dealing with law breaking where it is about self-interest. It is quite clear that, unless the underlying issues are dealt with, situations that result in terrorist attacks will continue to do so.
Furthermore if disproportionate acts are taken to deal with such conflict we actually end up with greater conflict and more acts of terror than otherwise.
That is why International Humanitarian Law has been developed over the years. If states follow those rules then it is possible to resolve conflicts without waiting for generations. The actions today of Bush and Blair will generate hatreds that will last for generations.
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