The fatal flaw of the flypaper theory

Following Negroponte's less than cheery assessment on the worldwide threat of terrorism, outgoing State Department terror coordinator Henry Crumpton dropped this bombshell.

An ex-CIA operative, Crumpton told NEWSWEEK that a worldwide surge in Islamic radicalism has worsened recently, increasing the number of potential terrorists and setting back U.S. efforts in the terror war. "Certainly, we haven't made any progress," said Crumpton. "In fact, we've lost ground." He cites Iraq as a factor; the war has fueled resentment against the United States.

..."We don't want to acknowledge we're going to get hit again in the homeland, but we are," he said. "That's a hard, ugly fact. But it's going to happen."

And if and when it does happen here, where will our troops be? Over there -- protecting Baghdad from its own liberated Iraqis.

Crumpton's departure appears to be sudden. He'll be gone in two weeks and according to an anonymous source, there is no one pending to replace him in this top counterterrorism post. Is it just me or does it sometimes appear that the White House really wants us to get hit again? Another 9/11 event along about -- oh -- May of 08 would sure provide a convenient excuse to declare martial law and suspend the next major election, wouldn't it?