The time when terrorist cells and fifth column types can cause us the greatest harm is when we are relaxed and totally unsuspecting, e.g. that beautiful sunny day on 11 September. Right now, everyone is hunkered down and expecting terrorism and sabotage. Now is the best time for the bad guys to come out and show themselves. Let them try and do what harm they can. They will have revealed themselves, been removed as a threat and won't be a problem later on.

I might also add that this whole Iraq exercise has been very useful in determining who we can and can not trust. Certainly there is no longer any uncertainty concerning our relationship with the French. Along with the French, the Germans have been very disappointing. Also the Russians have done a good job of showing how much we can count on them. I'm hoping that at the end of the process, the Turks and the British will have lived up to our full positive expectations (got my fingers crossed on that one).

Gary