Hamstringing the NYPD

Since September 11^th, 2001, one of the safest metropolitan areas in the world has been New York City.  That’s not because jihadists gave up trying to destroy people and property there.

The fact that they have not succeeded owes much to New York’s two mayors – Rudy Giulliani and Michael Bloomberg – and its Police Commissioner, Ray Kelly.  They have worked hard to maintain what the military calls “situational awareness” about threats to the city, from overseas and here at home.

Islamists and their allies on the left have sought to hamstring the NYPD’s surveillance of communities and institutions from which new terrorist plots might emerge.  The election of a new mayor and possibly court-ordered restrictions on the police may have that result.

Heaven help the city that remains America’s preeminent target.