On August 10, 2006, officials in London arrested 22 people that were alleged to be plotting to blow up 10 airplanes leaving Heathrow for destinations in the United States. On August 23, 2006, Northwest flight NO0042 from Amsterdam to Mumbai reversed course and returned to Amsterdam. 12 people on the flight were arrested due to suspicious behavior. These incidents serve as a stark reminder that extremists in terror networks are focused on attacking and debilitating the United States and other countries around the world.

Analysis
The facts will continue to emerge from these cases and in the meantime we need to assume that the plots were real and could have had a substantial impact with respect to both human loss and the global economy.