What’s happening to our gigantic melting pot? It’s changing. Post-9/11, the city just isn’t the same. Not so long ago, our rising metropolis was a center of cosmopolitanism. But now it seems that fear spawns suspicion of anyone who looks different. What with terrorists plotting mass murder and Big Brother able to check our commuting habits via Metrocards (I guess no more playing hooky on Fridays) or hang surveillance cameras over Times Square (I guess no more nookie on New Year’s Eve), are we that far from 1984?
Last Thursday, August 10, an alleged terrorist plot to explode 10 or more aircrafts mid-flight between Britain and America was thwarted. Twenty-four suspects have been arrested under counter-terrorism laws, mostly of Pakistani decent and believed to have connections with Al Qaeda. British authorities claim that, had they not taken action, the plan would have been executed within the next ten days.
The planned attack called for liquid explosives to be smuggled on board disguised as soft drinks. The bombs would then have been triggered by ordinary electronic devises such as cameras, cell phones or iPods. Who knew our American affinity for sugar and gadgetry could be turned against us?
Heathrow airport outside London grounded hundreds of flights and U.S. airports like JFK, La Guardia and Newark took similar action, though not to the same extent. Airports banned all carry-on luggage except for necessary travel documents and wallets, which were to be carried in clear plastic bags. Liquids were also banned, except for prescription medicines and baby formula, though passengers were told to be prepared to sample these at the security gate to prove they were harmless. Luckily, they didn’t expand the ban to breast milk; it would have been much more complicated to require a taste test of that paraphernalia.
President Bush was vacationing at his Texas ranch when the action went down but subsequently went to Wisconsin to campaign, commenting that the foiled plan would serve as a reminder that we are at war with “Islamic fascists” bent on destroying our nation’s freedom. The Council on American-Islamic relations criticized his use of this term, saying that its meaning is too general. Though that may be true, it’s kind of like claiming that ordering scrambled eggs implies that all eggs are scrambled. In context, these terrorists do kind of fit the description. Still, Bush’s use of that big word also serves as fodder to rally support for his increasingly questioned war in Iraq, which was the subject of much debate in the Connecticut Democratic primary on Tuesday.
Having lost his bid for re-nomination, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman seized onto the thwarted terrorist plot as confirmation of his pro-war stance. Ned Lamont’s narrow win over the three-term incumbent had much to do with their disagreement over the situation in Iraq. But Lieberman has filed petitions to run as an independent candidate in the November election, saying Lamont’s proposal to withdraw troops will only encourage terrorists and further endanger the United States. The averted attack also bolstered Republicans to continue their criticism of Lamont’s primary victory, believing it to be an indication of Democratic weakness regarding national security.
And speaking of security, 10 percent of the MTA’s bus fleet will be outfitted with surveillance cameras by the end of August. The footage will be stored for up to 90 days and viewed later by law enforcement, in case of a crime or terrorist attack. In the future, the technology may be upgraded for live video transmissions. Good to know that, perhaps one day, cops will have a shot at preventing crimes instead of just watching them like reality TV. If the system proves successful, it’ll be expanded, ultimately including all 4,500 buses.
As for the subway, a court ruled last Friday that the New York Police Department is free to continue random searches despite the invasion of rider’s privacy. After the deadly bombings in London’s Underground last summer, the NYPD adopted the practice and claims to have thwarted two known terrorist plots against the subway system. It is not clear, however, if having rifled through granny’s purse was the key to preventing either would-be terrorist attack. So the New York Civil Liberties Union filed suit in an attempt to preserve New Yorkers’ right to carry condoms and other goodies without suffering the judgmental looks of surly (or leering) police officers. But catching Osama’s henchmen may be just a little more important than your dignity.
Also on Friday, the NYPD decided to improve their five-year-old program designed to monitor local sales of chemicals, such as industrial-strength hydrogen peroxide, which could be used to make liquid explosives like the ones allegedly to be deployed in the foiled transatlantic terrorist plot. Under Operation Nexus, as the program is called, investigators contact chemical suppliers in the NYC area and urge them to be aware of any unusual activity and to report any thefts or questionable purchases. What exactly constitutes a legitimate purchase of industrial-strength hydrogen peroxide, I don’t know. Endeavoring to turn the private sector into a PTA snow chain of sorts may just work, but let’s hope that the proprietor being asked to report crazy Johnny-chemist didn’t just have his briefcase rifled through by some suspicious cop on the subway.
Lady Liberty herself, in whose name we take these precautions, won’t be receiving visitors to her crown again anytime soon. The entire statue was shut down after 9/11 out of fear that it could be a future terrorist target and concern that the spiral staircase was a fire hazard. Since then, $20 million has been put toward security and safety measures. In 2004, the monument was again opened to visitors but they were permitted to ascend no higher than the statue’s toes. Somehow, feet don’t really inspire hope. Apparently, the staircase up to that lofty American dream doesn’t reach very far anymore.
So it seems that in the legitimate aim to prevent terrorist acts, our New York has embarked on a very slippery slope that may well lead to an Orwellian end: that which we want most to defend, threatened by our own fear of losing it. But, be it terrorists or the government, at least you’ll have someone to blame.
