The Next 9/11?
As of this posting, twenty-four would-be terrorists have been arrested by British Officers in what could have been the "Next 9/11." According to Fox News, Scotland Yard is currently looking for about 10 more primary suspects. What they had planned, the detonation of liquid explosive in carry-on bags on flights coming from Britain to the United States, would have been one of the largest (and deadliest) attacks ever carried out. But they didn't get to blow up anyone, or anything.
How did we find out about it? Where in the pile of intelligence did someone see a possible attack on British airlplanes? Several weeks back, an Islamic militant was arrested on the Pakistani border, and the intelligence gained from interrogation led to the thwarting of today's attempt. The good guys won one. So why don't we feel better?
It's because ever since 9/11/2001, we've been waiting for the other shoe to drop. We know our enemies are no less hostile towards us (if anything they are more so). We pay more attention than ever before to possible threats. We police our borders (not well enough, but) better. We elect (at least so far) leaders who understand that our security is the single most important issue of our time. So why don't we feel safe?
We've lost our innocence. We as a nation have been violated, and that's hard to get over. Our nightly news doesn't help. If you've ever known someone who has been sexually or physically assaulted, they often stop watching the nightly news. The images of offenders and victims, that the "if it bleeds, it leads" theory of news-writing parade across the screen for us nightly, is just too much for them. I am not suggesting that we all turn off our TV's and disconnect our internet cables. We need to be more informed these days, not less. But what we don't need, and what we should tell the Media not to give us, is shameless scandal chasing. We don't need twenty-four hour a day coverage on the latest husband that ruthlessly killed his family. We need facts, not fear. We need hope, not horror.
Today we got facts, and hope. Both in large measure.
How did we find out about it? Where in the pile of intelligence did someone see a possible attack on British airlplanes? Several weeks back, an Islamic militant was arrested on the Pakistani border, and the intelligence gained from interrogation led to the thwarting of today's attempt. The good guys won one. So why don't we feel better?
It's because ever since 9/11/2001, we've been waiting for the other shoe to drop. We know our enemies are no less hostile towards us (if anything they are more so). We pay more attention than ever before to possible threats. We police our borders (not well enough, but) better. We elect (at least so far) leaders who understand that our security is the single most important issue of our time. So why don't we feel safe?
We've lost our innocence. We as a nation have been violated, and that's hard to get over. Our nightly news doesn't help. If you've ever known someone who has been sexually or physically assaulted, they often stop watching the nightly news. The images of offenders and victims, that the "if it bleeds, it leads" theory of news-writing parade across the screen for us nightly, is just too much for them. I am not suggesting that we all turn off our TV's and disconnect our internet cables. We need to be more informed these days, not less. But what we don't need, and what we should tell the Media not to give us, is shameless scandal chasing. We don't need twenty-four hour a day coverage on the latest husband that ruthlessly killed his family. We need facts, not fear. We need hope, not horror.
Today we got facts, and hope. Both in large measure.
posted by Daddy Rogue at 3:21 PM
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