The Latest Terror Plots

[erpowers]

I think it was late yesterday when the first news of the prevention of the terror plot on JFK Airport and the arrest of the people involved was announced. I think by this morning it was coming out that the people involved did not have the means to carry out the plot, but were just thinking about conducting the plot and planning the plot. My first thought when I heard about the plot was to ask others if they believed this was another one of the arrests of people who most likely would not have carried out their plan. This morning I came up with another question that just might be more important. Is arresting people who most likely will not or cannot carry out the plans they are making a good idea and the right way to prevent terror attacks?

This string of arrests of individuals who did not seem able to carry out the attacks they were planning reminds me of the plot from the movie Minority Report. This was the movie in which society prevented all crimes by arresting people before they could commit the crime. I wonder if this is the right way to prevent terror attacks. Yes, the attack will not happen since the people were arrested. However, since the government mainly said the attack most likely would never have taken place anyway was there any reason to arrest the people involved. I guess their is some law against plotting against America, but I am not sure arresting people who may never commit a crime in the thing to do. Yes, I believe America should be protected, but is arresting people who might not actually commit a crime a real solution. I am not saying the government should wait until a terror attack happens. Maybe they should wait until someone actually has an actionable plan and/or money to finance the plan. I guess what I am trying to ask is will arresting these people really work.

[merci_me]

1. The timing is "interesting"

From what I read, this has been known to the government since at least December or January. The group didn't have the money nor means then and still don't. So, why the big announcement, around noon yesterday? Was it to pump up the miserably fading standing of * at the G8, Saturday evening? I can just see him swaggering in, "Got'er done".

I seem to recall another "changing of the color code" emergency that wasn't, when Ashcroft was in Russia a few years back.

[Frustratedlady]

2. What's coming up next week?

Libby gets sentenced. What else? More hearings? Gonzo doing anything before the public? Surely something they are trying to draw attention away from.

[CJCRANE]

3. Two birds with one stone

(or more).

Tony Blair's heir apparent also coincidently timed his new terror laws announcement to come out at the same time:

"Gordon Brown has said he wants to strengthen anti-terror laws when he becomes prime minister this month"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6715885.stm

[CJCRANE]

4. It's more about PR

and media coverage, it has little to do with preventing terror (or if it has that isn't the most important consideration).

[Esra Star]

5. I am extremely hazy on the technicals here.

As far as I have heard, the plan involved turning a fuel dump into a
devastating bomb which would wipe out JFK.
My question is how do-able is this?