Alert, High alert, Red alert. These three words we hear every day on TV and also read in newspapers. Poor public does not know the difference between them. When told that security for a VVIP has been increased from this level to that, we don't understand why is this worse, or better, than that. We only wish the VVIPs would stay at home, or in their offices, as long as they can because the moment they come out, all traffic is stopped while hundreds of policemen are placed on duty to protect them. We are not keen on standing by the roadside for hours waiting for their convoys to pass. -Col (Retd) R.M. AKHTAR, Lahore, September 8.