The "Terror plot? What terror plot?" attitude can also be found across the pond

A few weeks ago the New York Post editorialized on the New York Times' casual coverage of the thwarted JFK terror plot.

It appears that the "Terror plot? What terror plot? " attitude can also be found across the pond.

Via Beavis and Butthead in London jihad by Thomas Greene (emphasis added):

Police and securocrats know that there aren't enough real terrorists in the world, which is why they have to keep manufacturing them...

...Today we have news from London, where a "big [explosive] device" was discovered inside a parked car near Piccadilly Circus. The device consisted of petrol, propane gas cylinders, and nails. The car containing it had been abandoned after its driver was observed piloting it erratically, crashing it, then running off, like a true professional. Ambulance workers called to assist nearby noticed what they initially thought was smoke inside the car, but which likely was petrol vapour, and contacted police.

Bomb disposal specialists made it safe, and police officials and politicians began slyly invoking the terrorist bogeyman. Heaven forbid the public should be starved of their regular fear rations.

"As the police and security services have said on so many occasions, we face a serious and continuous threat to our country", day-old PM Gordon Brown said. "But this incident does recall the need for us to be vigilant at all times and the public to be alert at any potential incidents."

And what an incident. "It is obvious that if the device had detonated there could have been serious injury or loss of life", Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke intoned gravely.

Ah, if it had detonated. Yes, it could have been a real horror. Only, the device could not have detonated. Not under any circumstances. You see, the terrorist wannabe clown who built it left out a crucial element: an oxidiser. The device was pure pre-teen boy fantasy...

Hmmm...pure...um...fantasy?

You have to give it to the bloke for exercising his critical (did someone say critical?) thinking skills.

A fellow brit responding to Mr. Greene is less cynical:

So what if they're idiots?
By Graham Dawson

I can sympathise with the general thrust of the article, but so what if they're too stupid to make a bomb? The point is people keep trying to do this, quite regularly if you believe the number of security operations going on around the country. The point all of you have missed is that they are trying to kill people, and one of these days they'll manage it purely on the odds. The people behind the July bombings were competent enough and there are a lot more people out there, equally competent, who are simply waiting to make their move.

I agree that a lot of the security precautions taken by this country are unnecessary, for example the liquids one (though, really, any explosion on board a plane, no matter how small or how incompetently produced, is going to be dangerous because of the dynamics involved) and other things that are really an attempt by the current government to tighten its grip over our lives, but I can remember the precautions taken during the IRA's tenure as well. For a while a lot of cities removed all their litter bins in order to prevent the IRA using them to hide bombs.

They started out as incompetents as well.

Whatever our government is doing, the truth remains that these people want us dead, and they want it because we aren't muslim, because we don't worship their version of god and don't venerate his prophet.

Commenter James Marby was a bit more succinct and generous with the British humour many love:

I'll Pray You Aren't hit by the next one
by James Marby

I'm always amazed at the depths of stupidity, ignorance and hatred that oozes from people like the writer of this bit of drivel. There are pimples on my ass with more integrity and intelligence...

Update: Ace of Spades has a related post: "Yuppie Terrorists" Attack Glasgow Airport With (Failed) Car Bomb

Update 2: BizzyBlog weighs in:

Unfortunately, some of the leftosphere’s leading lights dim bulbs have similar detachment (HT LGF, who also noted Daily Kos doing the “la la, can’t hear you” thing).