ARTICLE: U.S. was more focused on al-Qaeda's plans abroad than for homeland, report on airline bomb plot finds, By Karen DeYoung and Michael A. Fletcher, Washington Post, January 8, 2010

Of course, if the group had actually killed Americans in Yemen, then the report would have condemned the CIA for focusing too much on incredible attempts at bringing terror to the U.S. when the group's history suggests that localized strikes were all it could manage.

But now, of course, we know these clever bastards can give explosive elements to somebody who stuffs them in his underwear and then boards a plane (amazing logistics, yes?). Apparently inconceivable before (at least the Yemen part), we are now deluged with all-or-nothing-calls on Yemen--as in, take down the place or don't bother doing anything at all.

As the analysis grows more pointless, the debate dumbs itself down.

We now officially enter the silly season on this one.