Move Along – Nothing to Fear Here

This story has all the elements of a Tom Clancy novel. Mysterious narco-linked cash, info on nuclear materials and cyanide (great for causing mass panic,) and an unemployed man traveling through mysterious destination to a major US city.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/16/D8LE7F981.html

A man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after officials say they found him carrying more than $78,000 in cash and a laptop computer containing information about nuclear materials and cyanide.

Sisayehiticha Dinssa, an unemployed U.S. citizen, was arrested Tuesday after a dog caught the scent of narcotics on cash he was carrying, according to an affidavit filed in court.

When agents asked him if he had any cash to declare, he said he had $18,000, authorities said. But when agents checked his luggage, they found an additional $59,000. When they scrolled through his laptop, they said they found the mysterious files.

…

Dinssa, who is from Dallas, arrived in Detroit from Nigeria by way of Amsterdam and was headed for Phoenix, Feller said. He is charged with concealing more than $10,000 in his luggage, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Maybe “they” are wrong and we really do have something to fear from terrorists in this country. I continually hear from some quarters that if you have a genuine fear of terrorism, or approve of some of the methods the administration uses to catch terrorists, then you’re just a “bed wetter.” You know, because statistically, the average American has a greater chance of dying from say, slipping in the tub then they do from a terrorist attack.

Now, I may not like all the restrictions on boarding an airplane, or agree with every single thing the government does in it’s pursuit of terrorist suspects. But, I’d rather they treat the matter seriously, then not consider it at all. Privacy, civil-rights and security, the pendulum swings back and forth between more and less restrictions or permissions. The same has been true of executive, legislative and judicial power. The checks and balances work, but it takes time, effort, and attention that can span generations, and doesn’t fit well in the 24/7 news-tainment machine.

I’m all for a vigorous, civil debate on the merits of this or that policy, but to brush of concern over terrorism as bed-wetting, is a bad place to start the debate.

You do have to wonder how many guys like this fall through the cracks?

Or maybe this guys uncle really did have millions of dollars that he couldn’t get safely out of Nigeria, and he didn’t know what was on this laptop, which he’s just delivering for a “friend.”

BTW I would like to thank Lance, Omar and Michael for inviting me to post on their blog. I’ll do my best to meet their expectations, and will get a biographical post up here shortly.