No hair gel at Heathrow

[UPDATE: See comments from Jill below.]

No laptop computers, mobile phones, or iPods, or carryon bags either. Isn't it sad that the first thing that comes to mind when I turn the TV set on is whether the Homeland Security political leash jerk is back in service.

Maybe the news about the latest terrorist roundup, this time in England, is the real deal (folks leave updates in comments; I have to head out). After all, a whole lot of people are stuck on the tarmac at Heathrow and sitting in miles of traffic approaching the airport, air commerce is completely screwed; that isn't something I'd imagine even Bush lap dog Tony Blair wants to be responsible for if the charges are trumped up. (AP):

British authorities said Thursday they had thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up several aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives smuggled in carry-on luggage. Britain's Home Secretary John Reid said 21 people had been arrested in London, its suburbs and in Birmingham, including the alleged "main players" in the plot.

Huge crowds formed at security barriers at London's Heathrow airport as officials searching for explosives barred nearly every form of liquid outside of baby formula.

Officials raised security to its highest level in Britain and banned hand-carried luggage on all trans-Atlantic flights.The extreme measures at a major international aviation hub sent ripple effects throughout the world. Heathrow airport was closed to most flights from Europe.

The article notes that Blair is vacationing in the Caribbean and Bush is "spending a few days at his ranch near Crawford, Texas."

Skeletor Chertoff has raised the airline threat level.

You can read Scotland Yard's full statement here.

John isn't buying it at all.

UPDATE: From Jill @ Brilliant at Breakfast...

Bob Orr just said on The Early Show on CBS that the U.S. government has known about this for a few days. He wonders why, if knowledge of this plot is a few days old, additional safety measures to protect travelers have not been put in place until today.

Why indeed. Why, if you know that travelers are at risk because of a plot to blow up airliners in midair, do you not advise travelers the minute you know? Did the British announcement thwart a plan by the once again beleagured Administration to once again allow terrorist attacks to play out to serve its own political agenda?

I'm not ready to jump to that conclusion just yet because our government is so slackass on security that matters, this could be another Keystone Kops intelligence operation. But is it possible Uncle Karl's rolling out his political game plan overseas now? Sure.

Dear Leader, of course, is beating his chest on cue for the sheeple...

"This country is safer than it was prior to 9-11," Bush said from the airport tarmac here where he was appearing at events focused on the economy. "We've taken a lot of measures to protect the American people but obviously we're not completely safe. ... It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the United States of America...This nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation."


Paul the Spud noticed this timely ad placement on the Yahoo Story featuring Dear Leader.

...He and British Prime Minister Tony Blair held a lengthy teleconference on the matter Sunday and spoke again Wednesday by phone, Snow said.

"There were some signs," Snow said. "They thought it was time to move," he said of British authorities.

Yeah, right after Holy Joe tanked and your party is sliding into the abyss. Read the asinine mewlings at RedState:

The planned airline bombings by the terrorists should show the American people one thing, if only one things -- the Democrats' ideas on national security are bad for the safety of this country. Cut and run will not work because the terrorists do not follow the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, and Ned Lamont. Peace at any price is too great a price.

The numnuts at RS are also running a poll that you should freep, "Would Joe Lieberman Be The Dem Nominee If Today's Terror Announcements Occured On Monday?"

John has more here on Bush vacationing -- and knowing about the terror threat.