Weapons of Mass Distraction

The continuing adventures of Dick "Bureaucrat-for-Life" Clarke and Condi "60 Minutes" Rice is just the typical Washington smokescreen that happens during an election year. Last year it was Kobe Bryant, Scott Peterson, and shark attacks that kept everyone distracted from real issues.

Anything that comes out of Clarke or Rice's mouths are not going to bring back the people killed on 9/11. And as much as some people would like to believe it, The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (aka 9-11 Commission) will not prevent another attack from occurring. People sitting in comfy leather chairs and armed with probing questions and television cameras don't prevent terrorism.

This is a political blame game and nothing more. That doesn't mean there aren't people to blame for 9/11, but the blame can probably be spread across several administrations, several decisions, and several pencil pushers. There is no single person responsible for why the US didn't prevent 9/11. The culpability is everywhere including, let's not forget, the terrorists themselves.

Meanwhile, gas prices are averaging $1.75 per gallon, terrorists are still trying to blow stuff up abroad, and apparently out-sourcing jobs actually creates jobs. Real issues, real problems, and real situations that these policy wonks would rather not deal with right now.

Another possible story the US media are missing this week, and it's no big surprise, is the possibility of terrorism at the Grand Prix of Bahrain this weekend. This is the first ever Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. The brand new $150 million circuit will host thousands of team members, foreign press, guests, and over 50,000 on race day. That attendance is low by F1 standards, but understandable given the location and high temperatures, and it will still be the largest sporting event in the region. Add to all of this the 300 million worldwide viewers on television and the event could be a potential terrorist target.

The government of Bahrain has put in place extra security measures for the weekend, and everyone in the F1 Paddock appears to be taking things a little more seriously. The race itself stands to generate over $74 million in revenue for the region over the next few days. Let's hope the positive attention that the region will receive is enough of a deterrent.