EDITORIAL: Vigilance and fortitude: life under terrorism's shadow

Vigilance is the best defense for a nation forced to live with the specter of terrorism. That's the immediate lesson from the failed attempt to detonate a car bomb Saturday in Times Square.

The admonition, "If you see something, say something," may sound hokey and even Orwellian. But the advice proved effective. Attentive street vendors spotted smoke coming from a parked vehicle. They alerted mounted Police Officer Wayne Rhatigan of Holbrook, who called police emergency personnel, who then locked down the bustling area. It was the right response all around. But we also got lucky. The crude incendiary device never detonated.

Despite progress securing potential terrorist targets since 9/11, it's impossible to make a free nation risk-free - even though the predictable urge is to go with all the security money can buy. But this is certainly no time for Washington to cut its contribution to New York and the police operation here. An astounding 82 cameras trained on the area where the SUV was parked - another sign of these anxious times - provided leads that should help guide authorities to whoever did this. Federal officials said yesterday the plot may have involved more than one person, possibly with international ties. But they didn't rule out other possible motives and scenarios.

New Yorkers have lived for years with the discomforting reality that the region is a terrorist target. It takes fortitude. hN