This writer flew to London early last week, and returned last Sunday.  The routing was Logan-Heathrow, then Heathrow-Logan.  The airline is unimportant.  What’s important is that it was a few days after terrorists plotted to blow up ten planes flying out of Heathrow.

     Editorials usually aren’t travelogues.  Quite possibly, this won’t be terribly interesting to many readers.  Even so, a few thoughts and impressions might be useful to some.

     Friends called me before I left, to see if I were still going.  The answer was a quick “Yes”, made much easier to say because my ticket was non-refundable.  The trip had been planned for two months.  It was to see my son, his wife, and their four children, who had lived in England for many years.  Not an emergency, but very important to me.

     Some thought I was stupid; others told me I was courageous to go.  Both statements were ridiculous, of course.  After all, families drive to Disney World/EPCOT all the time, over American roads that claim close to 1,000 lives every single week.  And golfers don’t put down their clubs just because they might encounter snakes and storms now and then.

    There are only two new things an international traveler must do, at least for the time being:  ONE - pack all liquids and creams in checked luggage (guys, no coffee cups; gals, no carry-on cosmetics; kids, no cans of soda) and TWO – arrive three hours before your flight.  You’ll be inspected and inspected again.  Your carry-on items will be THOROUGHLY examined, including your shoes, so wear clean socks (doesn’t that remind you of what your mother used to say?).  The rules about scissors, jackknives, and the like still apply, as they have since 9/11.  You’ll be required to throw away anything the inspectors won’t pass.

     The carry-on inspection line at Heathrow when I returned stretched for more than a quarter of a mile – four football fields.  But it moved very rapidly.  Heathrow’s rules were the same as for Logan.  Three hours early and no liquids – that’s it!  Passengers accepted this as they went through various checkpoints.  They were cheerful.  Strangers talked; they even helped parents with restless children.  Everyone agreed the tightened security was absolutely necessary.

     It was a close call.  Some think that the terrorist acts were timed for August 22.  I feel they were timed for the fifth anniversary of 9/11.  Apparently, a Pakistani informer revealed the plot, so the terrorists tried do it sooner and got caught.  British infiltrators won this round, big time!  They deserve a lot of credit.

     Compare the U.S. and its Homeland Security Department.  That department was a disaster during Hurricane Katrina, especially the leadership of Michael Chertoff.  Take a look at the response to Katrina on its upcoming one-year anniversary, August 29.  Then guess how well we’re prepared for terrorist acts.  The FBI has not developed its foreign language capabilities either, despite adding 5,000 agents since 9/11.    We’re still arguing over profiling, even though we’re at war – at war with fanatics who’ll kill planeloads of civilian families in less than a heartbeat.

    Make no mistake.  After 9/11, the world’s terrorists are committed to “bigger and scarier”.  We have no idea what’s next.  To add insult to injury, oil prices jump every time a terrorist incident is successful.  That indirectly finances more terrorism.

     Yet, no one was afraid on the flights I took, not even the kids.  The planes were jam-packed, mostly with carefree vacationers.  And that’s the way it should be.  If we stay home and cower, the terrorists have won.  So travel.  And despite what you have heard, there isn’t very much added trouble at the airports.  Three hours early, no liquids, and you’re gone.  Enjoy!