Tom Ridge v. Tom Ridge — On Politics & The Terror Alert

Forgive us for being a little confused by the former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.

Ten days ago we learned that in his memoir The Test Of Our Times: America Under Siege, Ridge suggested that politics had infected decision-making at the highest levels of the Bush Administration.  In the days prior to the 2004 election, Ridge wrote, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Attorney General John Ashcroft had pressured him to raise the terror alert level.

“There was,” writes Ridge, “absolutely no support for that position within our department. None. I wondered, ‘Is this about security or politics?’ Post-election analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the president’s approval rating in the days after the raising of the threat level.”

His conclusion? “After that episode, I knew I had to follow through with my plans to leave the federal government for the private sector.”

Then there was Tom Ridge this morning, speaking to ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, denying vehemently to ABC News that politics ever entered into the decision-making.

“Neither at that time, nor at any other occasion,” Ridge told ABC’s Diane Sawyer, “when we had this deliberative process, where people express their opinion, their judgment…did I ever question any of my colleagues’ motives or rationale.”

Sawyer:  “But you said that after that, you had to follow through on your plans to leave. And if you look at your publisher’s note about the book, it says that – it’s clear, they call it “White House pressure.”

Ridge: “Well, I think people ought to read my words first.”

Sawyer: “I’m sorry…but you do say, you say, ‘Was it security, or politics?’ This isn’t putting words in your mouth.”

Ridge acknowledged as much – but insists he was never “questioning anybody’s motives.”

Sorry, Mr. Ridge. We are still confused. And frankly – it seems there was one headline from the manuscript that drew attention, and now there’s a desire on the author’s part to tamp down the furor. The press, Ridge says, is “hyperventilating.” Can Tom Ridge and his publisher have this both ways?