The threat is real Few things surprise me in the news, but I was surprised that outside of New York there was skepticism the threat of a subway bombing was real. For a moment, think what the consequences would be to the victims directly, and to confidence in the government if this was not made public with the appropriate measures taken. Monica Crowley on her Saturday radio program reported the fear the she had and what she observed in other subway passengers had when someone entered the car wearing a chador (but since according to Monica the face was veiled it would be called a burqa) and a large backpack. I didn't get a chance to call Monica, but to me this had all the appearances of a dry run. I would also expect there to have been a inconspicuous observer nearby with a camera, or camcorder. Dry runs like this accomplish several purposes: To identify what profiling and what procedures are used in a backpack search. To test how thorough the search will be (in the case a chador- or burqa-wearing individual) To see what reactions of the civilians, will be and if they contact authorities. (And explaining the presence of an observer) to record for legal and propaganda purposes, any confrontation with police, Nation Guardsmen, or civilians. To desensistize us to the presence It also was remarkable, here making the assumption that Monica's subject was a devout Muslim woman, that she would be alone on the subway. Muslim women according to their own rules for being out in public should be accompanied by their husband or male member of their immediate family or in a group of women. There are such things as dry runs. The most famous of which was Northwest Flight 327 where there was an official coverup but ultimately the FBI admitted they shared her suspicions. Terror in the Skies: Why 9/11 Could Happen Again