In the headlines of the last ten days:
AUGUST 7
AA flight from London to Boston diverted back to London due to passenger on "no-fly" list.
AUGUST 8
11 Egyptian students get off a plane in NY on 29 July, fail to show up for school. Nationwide manhunt ensues.
AUGUST 10
24 british-born muslims arrested in "TERROR PLOT".
AUGUST 13
British Airways flight from London to New York diverted back to London due to cellphone.
AUGUST 16
United Airways flight 923 from London to Washington D.C. diverted to Boston due to pilot declared "emergency".
Starting to see any pattern?
Get used to it, there are going to be more.
Headlines including the word "PLANE" produce a visceral reaction that conditions Americans to fear "terrorism" and thus be more amenable to suggestions by the government. (i.e. 'accept/demand greater restrictions on air travel' or more ambiguously 'vote for us, WE will protect you and THEY won't').
As it is in the interests of both Al Quaeda and the Bush Administration for the GOP to retain control of the U.S. House and Senate after November's elections, do not discount the extent to which both entities will go in order to obtain the desired result.
And if you see more headlines like these and hear a bell ringing, well that is Mr. Pavlov's "warning".
stephenhsmith
16Aug2006
