by CKR
I took this photo myself, at great danger to life and limb. The suspect carries hydrogen peroxide, to be mixed with a devastating cocktail of hydroquinones, sprayed explosively at a high temperature in a chemical attack. Note that the suspect is raising its abdomen, the deadly mixer, in readiness for the dastardly attack. The suspect is about two centimeters long.
What's even scarier is that this encounter took place under the front portal of my home, and the invader vanished after a few hours.
Seems like those terrorists in Florida were about as dangerous, but they didn't have the hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones. From this account, they were semi-delusional and got all their equipment from the FBI informant, to whom they handed wish lists.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales eschewed the idea of capability, long the staple for threat assessments:
"Our philosophy here is that we try to identify plots in the earliest stages possible, because we don't know what we don't know about a terrorist plot," he said. It is dangerous to evaluate in advance that "this is a really dangerous group; this is not a dangerous group," he added.
Threat assessments are necessary because we don't have enough resources to infiltrate every group of fantasizing adolescents. Capability means that they have the necessary materials and the know-how to use them.
The Brits aren't talking about their latest roundup, except to say that it doesn't have to do with the bombadier beetle plot.
Meanwhile, don't stay in the restroom too long on your next flight. I don't know what too long is. Women generally take longer than men, and it depends on whether you're wearing coveralls or not. Don't wash your hands if in doubt.
One of the real questions we need to ask was whether anything dangerous was found in all those liquids that were discarded. Another is whether any real terrorists have been found in those airport searches. Have they been prosecuted and found guilty?
In a Foreign Affairs article that's been largely ignored, John Mueller asks "Is There Still a Terrorist Threat?" His conclusion is that there are no serious al-Qaeda-type terrorists in the US. Not comforting for a Republican party convinced that the way to win the fall elections is to make us all afraid, but there it is, consistent with the arrest record and the lack of attacks.
Meanwhile, I don't know where my little terrorist went, and the Santa Fe Fiesta is about to begin. Be afraid, Santa Fe! Be very afraid!