Bruce Schneier has written an excellent piece on how the actual dangers posed by terrorist plots often differs widely from the dangers portrayed by the media and governments, it is titled Portrait of the Modern Terrorist as an Idiot.
The recently publicized terrorist plot to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport, like so many of the terrorist plots over the past few years, is a study in alarmism and incompetence: on the part of the terrorists, our government and the press.
Terrorism is a real threat, and one that needs to be addressed by appropriate means. But allowing ourselves to be terrorized by wannabe terrorists and unrealistic plots — and worse, allowing our essential freedoms to be lost by using them as an excuse — is wrong.
These wannabe terrorists are often pathetic Walter Mitty type characters whose fantasies of martyrdom are undermined by their utter of competence and ability to carry out their ridiculous plots. The case of Russell Defreitas and his plot to blow up JFK airport is a good example.
It’s a plot straight from the disaster movie genre. Destroy New York’s major airport, its terminals, and even parts of the borough of Brooklyn in one dastardly explosion.
Unfortunately for the alleged plotters, the real life Jack Bauers (of 24 fame) were ahead of the ticking bomb. Not only was the idea outlandish and highly unlikely to succeed, but authorities have been recording the conversations of the plotters for the past 18 months.
– Did these men pose a threat? Undoubtedly.
– Could they have blown up JFK airport? It’s doubtful and in any case they were barely into the planning stage of the attack and had been under surveillance for a long time so whatever threat they posed could never be realised.
