Resignation to Defeat?

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

For many analysts, the London attacks highlighted the vulnerability of our own mass transit system to attack.  In addition to the 3/11 Madrid training bombings and the London attacks, there have been other indications that our mass transit system may be a target -- including the repeated attacks on the Moscow subway system by Chechen terrorists and an August 2004 arrest of two men who were allegedly plotting to blow up a Manhattan subway station.

While commentators generally agree about the dangers that our mass transit system faces, there is much disagreement about what policing measures we should take in response.  In fact, some pundits seem ready to conclude that nothing can be done.  For example, Newsday columnist Ellis Henican wrote on the day after the London attacks:

Every day, 4 1/2 million men, women and children climb aboard [the New York City subway] trains. Add another half-million or so for the commuter rails, another 2 1/2 million if you count the buses.  You're gonna strip-search every one of them?  You're gonna walk them through metal detectors and wand their bodies when the magnetometers ring?  You're gonna rifle every briefcase, knapsack and gym bag?  Impossible!

Protecting ourselves in an open society without sacrificing its very openness is a difficult task.  Our eyes are open to the dangers that we face, and to me a sad resignation to defeat is -- to say the least -- an inadequate response.  Over the next several days, I'll have further thoughts on how we can improve our anti-terror policing.

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