A foiled plot by some terrorists to blow up the petroleum around JFK airport has been int he news lately.  When the news first hit the airwaves. I remember thinking “that could never work”.  Bruce Schneier has addressed this in more detail:

Portrait of the Modern Terrorist as an Idiot

The recently publicized terrorist plot to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport, like so many of the terrorist plots over the past few years, is a study in alarmism and incompetence: on the part of the terrorists, our government and the press.

Terrorism is a real threat, and one that needs to be addressed by appropriate means. But allowing ourselves to be terrorized by wannabe terrorists and unrealistic plots — and worse, allowing our essential freedoms to be lost by using them as an excuse — is wrong.

Bruce nails it.  The only thing dumber than the recently discovered terrorists is the US government’s response.