Independent News For the Bush administration, the more alarmed the public the better as it tries to push through Congress a measure to set up a new Department of Homeland Security and seeks to convince Americans, as the holiday season begins, that the war on terror continues, and that al-Qa'ida remains a potent threat.

The arrest, moreover, deflects attention from the deficiencies of the security services – especially the FBI – before 11 September, which are now under a Congressional spotlight.