08 July 2006

Yesterday's coincidence

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the London subway bombings. I vividly remember that day, and how I spent the morning trying to verify that my London-based acquaintances were all safe. (They were.) Those London bombings made it clear that the English-speaking world is still vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Coincidentally (?), on the same day that we were observing the anniversary of the London bombings, the media went wild with the news that authorities had thwarted a plot to bomb some New York City tunnels and flood lower Manhattan's financial district. [Read story.] Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff stepped up to give himself credit for the accomplishment. He wants us all to know that he's keeping us safe (even as our ports and cargo holds remain unsecured almost five years after the 9/11 attacks).

It's also interesting to note that this plot was uncovered by the FBI's monitorinig of Internet chat rooms, not by warrantless wiretaps or monitoring of the financial transactions of ordinary Americans.

But, lest I appear overly cynical, I do want to thank everyone involved with uncovering and thwarting the tunnel-bombing plot. It's not enough, but it does count.

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