"I just want to ask you what you've done each time there's been a new alert or warning."

I do the same as you: nothing. That's because Portland Maine and Clinton MA are probably not considered high priority targets.

HOWEVER, if I happened to be at Logan airport or in DC or in NY or LA or Vegas and the fed's raise the alert I would be more conscious of what's going on around me. A lot of people would be as well and that's my point. What a great deterrant. Wouldn't you agree? If a terrorist was planning on attacking financial institutions in NYC or DC and the fed's got wind of it's possibility and raised an alert, do you really think they'd go ahead with the attack knowing that everyone and their grandmother (security officials, police and civilians) were on the lookout for anything suspicious? I doubt it. Therefore, IMHO, the system works. Catastrophy avoided; for now.

It sounds to me like you disagree with the system because you're a conspiracy theorist and you're convinced there's an alternative agenda behind these alerts. But, you're wicked smaht and I could be wrong.