The Web of (Terrorism) Spin

Living as I do in (what we are led to believe is) the number one terrorist target in Europe, I generally feel safer knowing that the authorities are taking measures to combat the threat of terrorism...I'm liberal but I'm not a total dumbass when it comes to my security.

So I was quite relieved to read that someone who offered a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile for sale (although quite why Bin Laden needs to buy now what the CIA were quite happy to give him in the 80s is something of a puzzle).

This relief, however, was short lived : the man's name was Hemant Lakhani; the person who was selling him the weapon was an undercover FBI agent - the person who sold him the "weapon" was cooperating with the Russian security services (the FSB, not the KGB - new name, same friendly service), who were in turn cooperating with the Americans; the missile was of course, by arrangement, a dud. Thus the whole crime was, essentially, staged by the US and Russian intelligence services.

In other words, in the war on 'turr', the US government has been reduced to creating its own crimes to miraculously then solve. I think this could be a great idea for a new reality TV series - arrange to meet people in obviously dodgy places, film them with hidden cameras while asking them to buy you all sorts of dodgy things...film then cuts to the presenter's friend arranging to deliver these dodgy things. Then, just as the deal is about to be concluded, Jeremy Beadle (don't think he's retured from UK TV although haven't seen him for a while) appears, beard and all, and everyone bursts out laughing.

Then the hapless victim is led away to prison for a maximum of 67 years...

On a serious note, its obvious from this example there simply isn't enough crime in the States to keep law enforcement occupied...we've all been bored before but surely making up crimes to solve is not the answer...perhaps a better idea would be to send them to a country desperately lacking the means to enforce the rule of law...what's the weather like in Abu Grahib this time of year ?