Terrorist Investigations and the Law

The foiling of an apparent terrorist plot in England is a stark reminder of just how the world is changing today. Terrorists of the sort found in London are a new breed seen only in the past few years. More may be expected to be found in years to come.

The most important point of the story is the spoiling of the plot with legal means of investigation. Wiretaps and surveillance were used widely by British police both in England and in America according to news reports. No illegal activity of the sort carried out by the Bush administration was found to be necessary.

That such a successful investigation is possible in a legal environment should serve as a real reason to forego the administration's attempts to widen the current surveillance laws. No such widening seems to be necessary in the light of this most recent investigation. If the British can do this surely Americans can do the same or better.