Zefrank, "thinking so you don't have to", nails the real nature of terrorism in his coverage of the recently foiled transatlantic aircraft bomb plot. The US goverment knee-jerk reactions to terrorist threats and events, out of line with the real levels of risk, have done more to further the goals of terrorism than the actual acts by terrorists ever could have.
New Scientist chimes in with supporting views:
the current alert could be counted a success in terrorist terms, even though any plot appears to have been thwarted. "Nothing has to happen, because the fear in people changes their behaviour and their activities, hitting the economy at the same time."
Airline travel has now effectively changed to a "you must check a bag" situation because your deodorant could be a bomb. Right. It's also brilliant to have a second round of security at the gate to make sure nobody brings any liquids purchased at a past-security store on board the aircraft. Because that Diet Coke from McDonalds is a threat. I thought everything, including store inventory, was already security-screened? Otherwise, what's to prevent an airport restaurant worker from bringing bomb materials in and giving them to a ticketed terrorist?
Cheney held an unusual press conference the day before the raid, attacking Democrats as being weak against terrorism. The political angles being worked by the Republicans almost make me sick. I sure hope the majority of the voting populace sees through the manipulation.