Self-Loathing and the Denial of Terrorism

I have grown a bit weary of his daily Bleats, but Lileks can still write with the best of 'em. Here's proof:

You're an enlightened world citizen. Your T-shirt says "9/11 was an inside job." You're pretty sure we're living in a fascist state, that President Bush taps the Dixie Chicks' phones, Christian abortion clinic bombers outnumber jihadis, and the war on "terror" is a distraction from the real threats: carbon emissions and Pat Robertson. Then you learn that 17 people were arrested in a terrorist bomb plot. How do you process the information? Let's take it step by step.

Now go read the rest. (Hat tip: Jay Nordlinger)