THE WAR ON TERROR FOR DUMMIES

Lee Hamilton, the former Democratic vice chairman of the 9/11 commission, reckons the government has lost focus on the terrorist threat:

"We believe that another attack will occur. It's not a question of if. We are not as well-prepared as we should be."

"There is a lack of a sense of urgency. There are so many competing priorities. We've got three wars going on: one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq and the war against terror. And it's awfully hard to keep people focused on something like this."

So much for the obligatory Bush dig – it's one war with separate fronts. What does Hamilton suggest the government focus on?

"We know what terrorists want to do: they want to kill as many Americans as possible. That means you protect the Washington monument and United States Capitol, and not other places."

Well, that certainly simplifies the war on terror.