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Hit in Hocky, or Bombs on a Madrid Train

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Ed wrote, in part: "Which implied that all the small groups we dont know about, (and bet on there being hundreds) have free rein to pretty much do as they please. A somewhat sobering thought. As for the raid on the Amtrak train, the agent I spoke to confessed they only nab a few drug smugglers per year, so if we cant even keep the dope smugglers out, how in the world do we expect to keep the terrorist out?" Ed- I know you have some law enforcement background, as do I. Being up here quite close to the former site of the Twin Towers and having lost several folks I know personally in that mahem I can only tell you that I feel as concerned about it as anyone. However, now is not the time to panic about such things (not suggesting that you are) but to take stock of the situation and put meaningful security in place without breaking the bank. There are sleeper cells and all manner of terrorist groups out there. Several such groups have been rounded up by the authorities in this neck of the woods since 9/11. Also, the terrorist watch lists are now linked to local law enforcement in large measure. It is interesting to see what happens when someone on the list gets a traffic ticket and comes to the local justice court. So it is not completely accurate to say that things are the same as they were before. I don't think these groups can do completely as they please. Also, as to the rails, the terminals in NYC are much better patrolled than before and K-9s are very much in evidence there on my last couple visits. Also, each time NYC has a significant terror alert many of the NY State Police are riding the commuter and Amtrak trains in the region. Despite serious budget issues in NY, the NYSP is on a BIG hiring campaign too. Lets not lose sight of the fact that the terrorists are looking to make BIG statements too. Whether it be 9/11 or the Madrid bombings the targets are large concentrations of people and have symbolic value. There are relatively few places in our country were both of those things occur in the same place. Certainly, coverage of every mile of rural railroad track or interstate will be difficult, it is probably also unecessary. The fact that we haven't seen any new attacks on U.S. soil of any size should show that at least to some degree security is having an effect even if only to keep the terrorists guessing and thinking we are not as soft a target as we once were. No more easy slides on student visas, figerprinting and photographing of foreign nationals entering and leaving the U.S., better reporting on the sale of explosives and components, tighter security at the obvious targets, these all take a toll on the terrorists ability to move about and operate unhindered. This at least puts us on an equal footing with the rest of the world in terms of the "hardness" of the U.S. as a potential target. The price of security is vigilance. LC
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