Times Square Doesn’t Inspire Much Confidence
May 10, 2010
This is the first opportunity I've had to comment on the terrorist who almost blew up a portion of Times Square.
Faisal Shazhad is under arrest and has been given his constitutional rights. He's a recently naturalized American citizen from Pakistan. That status should be the first thing he loses, next to his freedom because he probably acquired it under false pretenses.
This war is continuing no matter what we say or do. Nothing will deter the religious zealots. Nothing! Enough of them are coming after us, studying our ways and manipulating our system that even though we dodged a bullet this time there will be more bullets and we won't be able to dodge them all.
Shazhad nearly escaped because of a gap in the way no-fly lists are communicated to certain airlines. Emirates Air didn't refresh its no-fly list in time, though Shazhad displayed many characteristics that should have raised suspicions, including buying a ticket at the last minute and paying for it with cash.
Thank goodness for two alert street venders. But they had nothing to do with our expensive Homeland Security Agency. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
Originally published May 10, 2010.
