There is fear on the part of politicians and administrative leaders of allowing anything harmful to happen to the populace. It doesn't matter whether the cause is a muslim terrorist or an act of God. The fear is that they will be blamed if it happens.

How would we react if Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden sent a message that there would be no more terrorist attacks if all US citizens who wished to fly in an airplane would remove their shoes and raise their hands in surrender before boarding. That is what is happening, and he didn't even have to send us an email.

I remember Benjamin Franklin's warning:

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.