Security needed, not just symbolics

Terrorist events dominated the media this past weekend. The apparent bombing of TWA Flight 800 and the Centennial Park bombing at the Olympic Games are now being grouped with the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, and the World Trade Center bombing on February 28, 1993, to suggest that terrorism has now come to America. The news media are in a frenzy, like a child in a Toys R Us with a credit card.

This past weekend is a case in point. The media are stuck on the idea of terrorism coming to America -- as opposed to the idea that these may be isolated acts of crazies. At the level of theatrics, for those not satisfied simply to watch the pipe bomb exploding in real time in Atlanta's Centennial Park, CNN provided viewers with a little live-action TV workshop about how to build a pipe bomb. The reporter showed a picture of the kind of pipe you need, the length, the caps on the end, the different kinds of explosives that work inside, and all the other deadly details. Then, in case you missed the details, CNN provided additional guidance where you could really learn the ropes -- on the Internet, complete with a Web site address, or at your local bookstore, with a CNN "best pick" book on how to build pipe bombs.

Then came President Clinton with his newly patented "tough on ..." look. This time it was "tough on terrorism" -- which is very close to his "tough on crime" and "tough on immigrants" look. Among other things, he said he intends to step up airport security.

What's wrong with this picture? A lot. First, here's another example of national media losing all sense of perspective and responsibility. Reporting on a tragedy perpetrated by a terrorist or a deranged crazy is one thing. Providing instructions on how to build a pipe bomb is quite another. Once again, media mavens violate common sense notions of suitability -- not to speak of more demanding concepts of the public interest -- that are otherwise shared by millions of ordinary Americans.

Second, while the president is announcing meetings to consider "get tough" policies, the fact is that dozens and perhaps hundreds of lives were saved by the heroic acts of two Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, Tom Davis and Steve Blackwell. These two men began clearing the area when they saw an unattended, green-colored, military-style knapsack that looked suspicious. They took this action even before the 911 warning call was received by the FBI -- and long before it was passed on to the field. From the words of Chairman Mao to Che Guevarra to contemporary students of terrorism, everyone knows that local vigilance, more than anything else, is required to combat homegrown terrorism that, we are told, is likely to be responsible for the Olympic bombing.

Of course, there is much the federal government can do to improve the security of ordinary Americans. But federal actions must transcend the president's proclivity for symbolic politics. Example: The silliness that now goes on at our nation's airports where people are required to show a picture ID. We now know from the record that the picture ID requirement has nothing to do with security -- except that security concerns are used as a cover for the airlines to demand an ID so they can get more revenue from business passengers who would otherwise fly on reduced fare tickets purchased for "John Doe." As every illegal immigrant knows, a fake picture ID is easier to get than the $5 it costs.

So, yes, it is time to get serious about security. But that will require both the media and the president to overcome habits of mind and action that are deep-rooted.