"Security put on high alert" is now almost daily news. What does that mean? And why does the security go on low alert in the first place for it to be ordered back to 'high alert'? And why the order for 'high alert' is passed only after an incident? Why don't they now remain on high alert at all times, especially in the precarious times we are living in? That brings me to what the 'security' personnel do once a high alert is called. Do they go on 24 hours duty in the state of high alert, as they were when blasts happened at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad? The incident that we saw on our screens was like a schoolboy game. It was higher than high alert that day. In fact, if I recall correctly, it was 'red alert'. Which brings me to the next question, you know -AMJAD HABIB MIRZA, Lahore, via e-mail, November 24.