The Bogeyman Did It!

After a big story like last week’s foiled terrorist plot—which come first, the jokes or the conspiracy theories? I don’t know, but the conspiracy theories do come fast and furious. It’s hard to believe so many theories can come so fast from a plot that failed. The most believable might be the theory that the terrorists planned all along to get caught, because all they want is publicity. I could almost believe that one except for the realities of 9/11, et al. I have heard that it was a plot by Dick Cheney to further his oil interests, but nobody ever explained how that would work. Then others say Cheney was mad because Halliburton didn’t get a certain big contract recently. One pilot told me—jokingly, I hope—that it was a Procter & Gamble plot to increase demand for shampoo and other liquid toiletries confiscated at airports. Still others say naw, it was a plot by the convenience store owners of the world. Yet another rumor has it that the flight attendants planned the whole thing to eliminate carry-on luggage. Or maybe the airlines did it for the same reason. Then again, there is a strong argument that Bush did it to convince voters that we really are at war, and he was right all along. But Republicans say the Democrats did it to show how Bush got the world mad at us. My personal theory? Fidel Castro teamed up with Elvis (you did know he’s not really dead?) just to detract attention from the fact that Fidel really is dead. Or did the Dixie Chicks do it because they are so ashamed of Bush? In any event, new restrictions came furiously for a few days but are now easing just as rapidly. Son Brett left today for London, and they let him carry on—repeat, carry on—a violin, if you can believe it. I don’t know if I’d want to walk through either London airport as an American toting a violin case. Smacks too much of Al Capone to suit me. We'd love to post your comments. Please click on the comment box at the top.