Next time we may not be so lucky

On May 1, a Pakistani-born American citizen, Faisal Shahzad, attempted to detonate a car bomb in Times Square. His intent was simple — to kill innocent American citizens and create economic chaos.

Thanks to the exceptional investigative skills and vigilance of the New York Police Department, the FBI and U.S. Customs officers, Shahzad was apprehended at JFK Airport just 53 hours after the botched attack. I must commend the everyday heroes — the street vendors and NYPD Officer Wayne Rhatigan.

Thanks to them, Shahzad was taken off an Emirates Airline flight scheduled to depart for Dubai, and confessed shortly thereafter. He was charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and other related charges.

Shahzad is no common criminal. He is a terrorist with established ties to the Taliban in Pakistan. Even though we were able to thwart a deadly attack, we can’t begin to celebrate.

I understand that hindsight is always 20/20, but why is it that nearly nine years after the attack on the World Trade Center, we were no more prepared this time than on Sept. 11, 2001? Just when we think we have sound and secure airline policies, we learn that Shahzad was allowed to board a plane even though he was on the government’s no-fly list. He was even able to purchase his ticket with cash without sounding alarm bells.

Even more frightening, Shahzad became a U.S. citizen only last year. How is it possible that despite numerous trips to Pakistan, meetings with the Taliban and increasing radicalism, he was granted citizenship? This wasn’t your typical suburban Connecticut father!

U.S. Rep. Peter King said that the failed terrorist scheme should be considered a wake-up call for Washington. Well, sound the alarm and blow the whistle! Terrorism is and remains a huge threat to our national security. Now is not the time to relax policies or cut funding, especially in New York City.