OK, OK, I give. Exploding airplanes are really, really bad. That said, for me to take this UK "liquid explosives" thing as seriously as the press and Republican operatives want me to, I'd have to believe that:

1. The press is never complicit with the Republicans in playing the fear card;

2. The Republicans never play the fear card for political reasons;

3. Tony Blair would never want to help out the Bush ("British intelligence has learned");

4. The facts, when they come out in court, will live up to the first stories;

5. This "liquids" thingie is a new threat, as opposed to being around, oh, since 1995.

6. The administration is serious about actually fighting terror, as oppposed to being serious about being seen to fight terror.

I mean, if they were serious, the ports would be protected, right?

And they'd be spending money on bomb detection, instead of cutting the budget, wouldn't they?