Two-time Super Bowl Champion, ex-Denver Broncos quarterback, sometimes car dealer and Colorado icon John Elway seems to be trying to add another line to his Hall of Fame resume: anti-terrorism expert.
Elway, along with Denver TV anchor Kim Christiansen, is the narrator of a pretty great little video titled "Recognizing 8 Signs Of Terrorism." The video was introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference this week, and was apparently produced by the FBI, state of Colorado and Denver's Center for Empowered Living and Learning ("The Cell"), which has a new exhibit called "Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: Understanding The Threat Of Terrorism."
The video includes frightening music, government seals, shadowy terrorists, and the warning from Elway that "anybody can be a victim of terrorism, anytime, anywhere." Though he doesn't follow up with "That means you!" or "Run for your life!" or "Suspect everyone!", it's sort of implied.
The video also unintentionally serves as a handy how-to guide for staging a terrorist attack, explaining how terrorists raise and transfer money, conduct surveillance on potential targets like schools and stadiums, clock typical emergency response times, impersonate officials and acquire supplies. Of course, this is all presented in the context of information that's supposed to help viewers like you spot and catch a terrorist.
To be fair, at least the video doesn't employ racial stereotypes. Almost all the supposed terrorists, often peering through heavy-duty binoculars, taking photos of potential targets or unrolling floor plans, are white.
Here's the video. Clearly Elway's greatest accomplishment since Super Bowl XXXIII.

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Scarce
October 7, 2009 5:42 PM
And Elway thought McCain only needed a field goal to win the presidency with about 10 days left in the campaign. In reality by that point McCain and Palin needed several Hail Marys and a Reverse Flea Flicker to catch up to Obama.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/24/john-elway-mccains-field-goal-to-victory/
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mike
October 7, 2009 5:43 PM
Revival a stupid old gag from when I was a kid: They should really send John Elway to Afghanistan. Why? He's the only one who can overthrow Al Qaeda.
ba-dum.
(substitute Libya and Gaddafi for Afghanistan and Al Qaeda, if you want to time travel)
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macsurf
October 7, 2009 6:04 PM
I wonder how many millions in tax dollars will be wasted in Colorado because of police being sent on wild goose chases by false alarms because of this video?
I do know one thing. Don't pay cash for an airline ticket. That immediately makes you suspect.
I learned that five years ago this coming March. I got an email from my brother that my mom was near the end and I should get home ASAP.
I was out of the country. I went to a travel agent, he bent over backwards to get me a flight home the next day. I paid cash for the flight change fee and was in the air less tha 24 hours later.
man, when I got into the States, you'd have thought I was Osama bin Laden or Whitey Bulger.
A travel agent in the States told me to never pay cash anymore for a ticket, especially when you're flying on short notice. It Immediately flags you.
I suppose it's understandable on some level, but when you explain why your travel plans changed so abruptly, I still don't believe ordinary Americans should be treated like Whitey Bulger or Osama bin laden, especially not when it is our taxes that pay the salaries of the people who treat us in such a manner.
This video, no doubt, was well intended. My hunch is it will result in a whole of tax payer money getting wasted on wild goose chases.
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wrb
October 7, 2009 6:21 PM
John was in my Econ 1 class.
Sounds like he hasn't gotten smarter.
Some people at stanford must have really wanted to win football games.
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SkepticRising
October 7, 2009 11:44 PM in reply to wrb
Interesting. Elway's degree was in economics. Maybe he had a tutor.
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Peter Principle
October 7, 2009 6:21 PM
John Elway as anti-terrorism expert: Because anyone who can read an NFL 3-4 defense obviously has what it takes to figure out Al Qaeda's next move.
In the wing nut world, this makes perfect sense.
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ohyeathatsright
October 7, 2009 6:34 PM in reply to Peter Principle
Given the option though; I'd take Elway over Joe the Plumber for foreign policy advice. I'm sure Elway is at least a bit more traveled.
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Scientific
October 7, 2009 6:29 PM
My 21-year hate affair with Elway continues. (Signed, a Browns fan)
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KZ
October 8, 2009 7:58 AM in reply to Scientific
Seconded, Scientific. As another Browns fan,I have a visceral hatred of Elway. Or, as we call him in my house, Horseface.
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tedster
October 7, 2009 7:50 PM
Elway needs to just retire out of the public's eye already.
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traitorjoe
October 7, 2009 8:10 PM
You guys missed Elway's best lines: "The terrorists are a lot like the Oakland Raiders - loud, unshaven, smelly and violent. They can cause great damage, but because we've got a game plan, we can stop them before they attack. For example, if they come with the safety blitz, we throw the quick slant. If they clog the box with 8 and stuff the run, we pass over the top. If the Linebackers are too close, play action. We won the Super Bowl and we can win the War on Terrorism. Thank you and good night!"
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Tanjaoui
October 7, 2009 8:35 PM
I don't know about his terrorism creds, but I want that yellow blazer!
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traitorjoe
October 7, 2009 8:38 PM
You can have one when you get in the Hall of Fame, like a real He-Man ... such as John Elway, king of the Terrorist Fighters.
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pinson
October 8, 2009 1:23 AM
Elways terrified of Joe Montana. And rightly so!
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Christianwars
October 9, 2009 1:46 AM
Ya know if you don't know the playbook, ur al-Qaeda. If you don't wear my favorite brand of men's musk, you're al-Qaeda. If you never took steroids on a dare; you're al-Qaeda...
9/11 was an inside job. al-Qaeda was created by the CIA.
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rick
October 9, 2009 8:04 PM
Anyone notice that all the so called "terrorists" in this video are white! What they trying to say? Is it not Al-qaeda anymore but the good old American public? They might be taking pictures of famous building! They might pay for things with cash! They might get a job somewhere, hey watch out for people getting jobs! They might break into a ranch! Why would a terrorist break into a ranch? Nearly everything in this video was complete BS. Very disturbing.
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