Bomb case focus now on policy, prosecution and security
For the first couple of days, the Times Square bomber case offered our camera-ready national and state politicians little opportunity to declaim, advise, drive agendas or pander.
Ordinary people dominated the public drama of the rigged sport utility vehicle that belched smoke and, thankfully, hurt nobody. Before the arrest of Faisal Shahzad, the cast of known players consisted of alert street vendors, energized police, puzzled tourists, a surprised kid who sold a car and an auto repair shop owner.
But the pols will get their chance to declaim, advise, drive agendas and pander.
With a big arrest made, and the probe shifting overseas, scrutiny has begun on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's performance, the tone of U.S. policy on Pakistan and the methods used to prosecute Shahzad.
In the opening days, elected officials seemed merely to be repeating what they said when other plots were foiled.
President Barack Obama said America will not be terrorized and justice will be done.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg hailed the helpful, and warned against anti-Muslim or anti-Pakistani backlash.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for increased New York homeland-security funding.
State officials play a background role, and state candidates for this year's mega-election have mostly been eclipsed.
It was largely ignored when Rick Lazio, running for governor, said Sunday: "Last night's incident in Times Square is exactly why I have proposed expanding the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative throughout New York City . . .
"When we catch the terrorists responsible for this they should be treated as enemy combatants rather than common criminals."
Since Shahzad is a naturalized U.S. citizen, he doesn't bring the fuel to a revived immigration debate that he would have if undocumented. Still, some in Washington will fix on whether the current naturalization process fails to screen out crazed traitors.
Other flash points are forming, too. After the "underwear bomber" tried to blow up a plane last Christmas, Napolitano drew fire by famously asserting "the system worked." Over the weekend she seemed to suggest this case looked like a singular event. Her words will be parsed anew.
Also, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said of Shahzad, "Don't give this guy his Miranda rights until we find out what it's all about." Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) said he hoped officials vetted that matter with intelligence agencies. For their part, FBI officials said Shahzad was first questioned by authorities under the public safety exception to the Miranda rule - then read his rights, yet continued to cooperate with interrogators.
Once again, a world-riveting drama starts on New York streets and moves on to Washington and the Near East, as the politicos of both major parties look to keep pace with the limelight.
