Whitewash

Could it Happen Again?

About a year ago, journalist Annie Jacobsen related a terrifying thing she and her husband experienced on Flight 327 from Detroit to Los Angeles. The story-in-a-nutshell is that 7 Middle Eastern men stood up all at the same time and used the rest room in serial order. This was done just as the plane had cleared for landing and terminal restrooms would've been available in short order. At this point in time, the FBI had already been investigating groups that engaged in "dry runs" to assemble bombs in airplane lavatories. The Office of Homeland Security identified the men as belonging to a Syrian backup band for a singer named Nour Mehana. The Federal Air Marshals Service was extremely perturbed by Ms. Jacobsen's article and sought to quash it. Mind you, they weren't bothered by the events described, but the publishing of the article itself. FAMS said that the band was on the up-and-up and had even followed them to the casino where they were performing. One year later, FAMS admitted on record that they never followed anyone to a casino.

Ms. Jacobsen has a wonderfully tenacious approach, and followed the details like a bloodhound. Several things fell out from her follow-up. A researcher for National Review found out that one of the Nour Mehana's songs was a glorification of suicide bombers. Jacobsen tracked down one of Mehana's promoters and found out that the singer charges 32K per appearance. One of the venue employees estimate that the proceeds from an appearance was 24K -- an 8K loss. Why were Syrian musicians flown in for a money-losing appearance; there are quite a few Syrian musicians already here, looking for work. Other promoters familiar with Mehana had vague and contradictory information on the backup band. Their names and whereabouts were unknown. Jacobsen finally obtained a photo of Mehana and his backup band taken two weeks prior to Flight 327 -- the men shown were not the men on the flight.

As it stands now, Homeland Security and the House Judiciary are one year into investigating the matter with no results thus far. One has to ask -- could 9/11 happen again? Could it happen according to the 9/11 blueprint or something similar? Not only "yes", but "yes" emphatically. To the extent that we don't have a handle, it could be much worse -- a dirty bomb or an atom bomb. At that point, the United States government and all the non-terroristic world would need to confront the full scope of oil politics and pernicious religious fundamentalism. The two don't mix very well. What is the long-term prognosis for the situation? Here I will look into my crystal ball.

First we should have less reliance on Saudi oil. This alone will take financial leverage away from terrorists. It will probably be accomplished by developing alternate forms of energy. Next, what we will have is a "Gaza-fication" of the entire Middle East. Countries that foster or tolerate terrorism will face economic sanctions, blockades, physical isolation and finally physical containment within a walled perimeter -- rather like lions at the zoo. Is that a violation of the Social Contract? It would be if all the players were rational humans. It isn't anything but taming of a beast, when religious zealotry becomes a monster unleashed. What of Ms. Jacobsen's findings? From every sign and signpost, it looks like her articles will have to be at last punctuated with some maniacal demon's dirty bomb.