Boston and the public attitude to security.

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: John Pettitt <jpp () cloudview com>
Date: February 2, 2007 7:27:19 PM EST
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Boston and the public attitude to security.


For IP

The Boston incident is an interesting case study in US politics.    I  
grew up in the UK and spent a lot of time in London when the Irish  
were doing their thing.    I've personally witnessed a three  
"suspicious package" incidents in London and Paris.    What's  
interesting is that the security services treated the incidents (all  
unattended bags) as real, invoking the full bomb squad response but  
when they turned out to be false alarms everybody was simply happy  
and went on their way without recriminations.  The reaction to the  
Turner/Boston incident is notable as much for the search for somebody  
to blame as it is for the actual incident.

The situation in Boston s far from unique.  500 yards from my house,  
when the threat level is raised, the California Highway Patrol  
inspects trucks heading for the Golden Gate bridge.    Quite what  
makes them think a terrorist driving a truck full of explosives is  
actually going to pull over and be inspected is unclear.    However  
they can claim to be doing something and that makes people feel better.

I think part of what is happening can be explained by the fact that  
the US still hasn't really experienced terrorism the way Europe  
has.    9/11 was clearly a massive event but the slow drumbeat of  
events every month to the point where there are no trash cans in a  
city center and an unattended backpack causes a two block evacuation  
just hasn't happened.  People want to believe there is security  
(hence the security theater at airports and the Golden Gate bridge)  
but don't actually understand the risks.
I think there is a marked disconnect between the security community,  
who have studied the lessons of Europe and the Middle East, the  
politicians who want to be seen to be doing something and the general  
public who want a Hollywood / TV response that stops the big event.    
The fact that the events that have happened (9/11, the first trade  
center bombing and Oklahoma city) have been big has just compounded  
the problem.

In the end while the conspiracy between the public wanting instant  
fixes and politicians pretending they can deliver them persists we're  
going to see more of this sort of thing.

John






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