The Cold War Revisited

(The "Hummers' Parade" [a parody of the Philadelphia Mummers' Parade], Middletown, DE, Jan. 1, 2002)

Just this morning, on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulis, I heard an administration official claim that, despite the ability of a known Islamic extremist to board an American airliner on Christmas day, our intelligence agencies have indeed learned the lessons of 9/11 and that they are now"connecting the dots."  

        Something about this morning's reassurance recalls those wonderful Civil Defense films of the mid-1950s.  As I recall, those films typically started off showcasing the impressive abilities of our air-defense missiles and jet interceptors.  But, then, the narrator would admit that, despite our best efforts, some Russian bombers would get through and that it was up to all of us to be ready.

        Once again, I guess, the more things change . . . .

--EFP