Ridge reveals clashes on alerts

We only snarkily suspected that the terrorist risk level was a political tool. Now it turns out to be true.

The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says.

Ridge, who resigned Feb. 1, said Tuesday that he often disagreed with administration officials who wanted to elevate the threat level to orange, or "high" risk of terrorist attack, but was overruled.

It's getting really hard to exaggerate for effect anymore.