Goodbye Carry-on Bags

To those who still insist we're not at risk just because we haven't been attacked in nearly 5 years, this news should be a wake-up call (it should be but probably won't be):

British authorities said Thursday they had thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up several aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives smuggled in carry-on luggage. Heathrow was closed to most flights from Europe, and British Airways canceled all its flights Thursday between the airport and points in Britain, Europe and Libya.

Britain's Home Secretary John Reid said 21 people had been arrested in London, its suburbs and in Birmingham following a lengthy investigation, including the alleged "main players" in the plot.

Officials raised security to its highest level in Britain and banned carry-on luggage on all trans-Atlantic flights. Huge crowds formed at security barriers at London's Heathrow airport as officials searching for explosives barred nearly every form of liquid outside of baby formula.

The extreme measures at a major international aviation hub sent ripple effects throughout the world. Washington raised its threat alert to its highest level for commercial flights from Britain to the United States amid fears the plot had not been completely crushed. The alert for all flights coming or going from the United States was also raised slightly.

Two U.S. counterterrorism officials said the terrorists had targeted United Airlines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

A U.S. intelligence official said the plotters had hoped to target flights to major airports in New York, Washington and California, all major summer tourist destinations.

Homeland Security is moving quickly to thwart any terrorists who might be part of this plot and are still out there:

The U.S. government raised the security alert on passenger planes to its highest level for the first time on Thursday after Britain said it had foiled a plot to blow up flights to the United States.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it was taking an unprecedented step by raising the threat level for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom to "severe," or red.

The threat level for all other commercial aircraft operating in or destined for the United States would be raised to "high," or orange, from "elevated," or yellow, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.

[...]

Homeland Security took immediate steps that included barring passengers from carrying liquids, including beverages, hair gels and lotions, on planes. It said travelers in both countries should expect long delays.

A British police source said the plot was believed to involve a "liquid chemical" device.

And who do you suppose are the suspects in this case? The early reporting wasn't terribly clear:

Sky News' Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said those arrested were mainly young, British-born Asian men.

Hmmm. Asian men. Could they be Chinese, or perhaps Japanese? Maybe Korean? And what would motivate such actions. As Paul Harvey would say, what's the rest of the story?

The Asian men were British citizens of Pakistani origin, and Pakistan is almost exclusively what type of country? Muslim.

Congrats to the good guys for stopping this one, though it will undoubtedly cause major chaos at airports around the country. I'm glad that I'm not scheduled to fly anywhere anytime soon.

P.S. Scrappleface suggests that maybe the real problem is that Muslims hate airplanes. Thanks, Scott, we needed the laugh in this tense time.

And I'll bet Oliver Stone and the financial backers of World Trade Center are thanking the stars (or whatever it is they thank) for the free publicity for their 9/11 movie.

WACKO UPDATE: The nutroots are already proclaiming this a Bush/Blair conspiracy.