Terror Attack?
Good day from New York, where we are carefully following today's frightening incident at the Glasgow International Airport in Scotland. We all know what immediately comes to mind when we hear a car has plowed into an airport terminal bursting into flames, especially a day after those two car bombs were diffused in London. The witness accounts all suggest it was a deliberate act, but at this writing, whether it is an act of international terror related to the London car bombs remains to be seen.
A year ago I was in the UK covering a terror threat to US-bound airliners from London. That incident is the reason these days we are forced to carry our shampoo and contact solution in ziplock bags to get through airport screening checkpoints. Before that, it was a shoe-bombing attempt aboard a London to Miami flight that resulted in us having to remove our shoes before we enter the concourse. Within hours of today's incident in Scotland, American airports were again ramping-up security, and I can't help wonder if the days of getting dropped-off at the terminal door are now numbered. Is that what we will remember this day for?
NBC News senior investigative correspondent Lisa Meyers will join us from the UK to lead our Nightly News coverage tonight of the Scottish airport incident and what investigators have learned about the London car bombers.
We are also covering the flooding situation in Texas and Oklahoma. Our Jay Gray is working that story.
Pete Williams will take a look at the Supreme Court's strong swing to the right, and Mike Taibbi on America's newest big cities, and what the latest census numbers say about the way we live.
Thanks for checking-in. I hope you join us tonight for NBC Nightly News.
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We'll just get more an more illogical 'security rules' based on past attempts. Like closing the barn door after the cows have left, but leaving it ajar so the other animals can escape as well.
That whole lie about 'liquid explosives' really irks me. Anyone who knows a damn thing about the subject knows that you won't be able to mix much less ignite such a substance on a plane with pre-existing security.
Some day this "better safe than sorry" will either result in the ultimate moralizing nanny-state, or we'll have revolted.
Judging by America's declining educational standards and the rise in trust of mythology over science...we're screwed.
I just hope I don't wait too long to jump ship, the money makin' is good here!
Sean, Torrington CT (Sent Jul 2, 2007 10:10:52 AM)
hi lester, i love watching you and campbell on the weekend today show. there is something thathas been bothering me for the last couple of weeks and i want your and brian williams opinion on the issue. i truly feel sorry for what happened to jesse davis and bobby cutts should pay for the crime he committed, if proven guilty. but what i want to know is, if jesse davis was black and bobby cutts was white, would this story have gotten the same media attention?
carmen hawkins, st. louis, MO (Sent Jul 2, 2007 5:05:08 AM)
We can look forward to a civilization based on justice and mutual respect which leads to dialogue and peace, or we can look forward to more injustice, fundementalism and terrorism
Anthony S., Washington DC (Sent Jul 1, 2007 9:30:50 PM)
There is something that people don't seem to understand about Terrorism. These people that USE Terrorism, employ it as a 'tool', intending to produce a desired affect. They can't achieve the same result - From direct combat against perceived enemies; like us, the israelis or the British - that are FAR more capable of influencing world events, than they would be otherwise capable of. This is the ONLY way they CAN affect us ! Since this is WHY they do it, the worst thing we can do is to give them 'CAUSE'. This is the thing that we ARE doing, allowing them to keep the 'threat' alive. No matter how many of them we kill or capture, they will keep replacing them !
Mike Moran; Derry, NH (Sent Jul 1, 2007 7:52:03 PM)
While England is correct with the terror threat assessment, the US does nothing, will we never get this right. The terrorists could easily come over here.
Deb Maness, McKinney, Texas (Sent Jul 1, 2007 12:11:04 PM)
Nobody should feel comfortable with the terror level. This was our wake up call. Bush needs to decide what is more important to him, the safety of Americans, or his war. He spent money on what could have provided us with the most complete anti terror means in combatting this problem. Instead, he chose to escalate, continue his war for oil. You have to wonder who is really running this country, as its not a president. I am not secure with our terror levels and nor should anyone else be. Its a farce. Its hoping we get attacked again, so this war can continue indefinetly. Bush, grow up, protect your people.
Maria T. St, Louis,Mo. (Sent Jul 1, 2007 11:57:01 AM)
Great show Lester alot of information in a little time. Just one point I wanted to add.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday criticized Fred Thompson for suggesting illegal Cuban immigrants pose a terrorist threat. Now that shows Thompson isn't Presidential material. I read the CIA Horror report and how the US paid Cuban Mafia to assassinate Castro. I guess Thompson didn't know we have home grown American terrorist that were born here.
PM Brown is doing a great job in the terror plot in the UK. The people in the UK are in good hands with PM Brown. I just hope the UK looks beyond Al Qaeda as terrorism is happening with newly formed groups with their own problems.
As for the Supreme Court's decision on the schools, well they say if you live long enough you get to see the same thing twice. Justice Thomas should be glad he got in office when the equal rights bill was in effect. Now as they turn back the clock we will see Woman's Rights and Voting Rights dismantled. At lease I'm glad I got to live during a time when American laws allowed all people to be equal. Let's hope the next generation can bring equal rights back. Bush did do as he was asked by his base, to bring back the pass segregation and prejudice.
Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Jun 30, 2007 10:17:29 PM)
I remember not too long ago about the news of the Al Quida terrorist graduation video being released. In the video it said the graduates would spread out across Europe and America to carry out attacks.
Bush/Homeland Security dismissed the tape as not being credible. London - unexploded car bomb found. Glasgow - bomb exploded.
How credible does Bush/Homeland Security view the tape today?
Dewey Quong, Reno, NV (Sent Jun 30, 2007 7:47:17 PM)
Good Evening Mr.Holt, I remember when it was alot easier to go to the airport. Actually walking to the gate to greet someone getting off the plane. And I too recall the days of dropping someone off at the terminal. Because of all these terror threats and incidents those days are over. Maybe they will return someday. I certainly hope so. The day we are rid of these terrible people causing these incidents will be a great and peaceful day. Looking forward to the broadcast Mr.Holt. Peace to all!!
Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Jun 30, 2007 4:22:15 PM)
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