More than a million spectators filled Boston’s streets Monday in support of 36,000 runners — the largest marathon field in history. One year after terrorist brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev exploded their bombs, this was Boston’s way of demonstrating its resilience.
We New Yorkers have our own experience with terror. So on this day, even Gothamites cheered the Red Sox hats and other expressions of Boston pride.
And the outcome couldn’t have been brighter: Not only was the race run without incident, it was won by Meb Keflezighi. Born in Eritrea and raised in southern California, he’s the first American to win Âthe Boston Marathon in 31 years.
Gratified as we are by the day’s events, the question isn’t whether, with the right security, we can run a Boston Marathon or similar event without incident. The larger question is whether America’s authorities are doing what is needed so innocent citizens can board a plane, work in an office tower or walk near a finish line without fear of a terrorist attack.
Good intelligence is the key. For example, if Russia hadn’t held back information about Tamerlan Tsarnaev — including phone conversations with his mother about jihad — perhaps the FBI would have intervened before he planted those bombs.
But what are we in fact doing? Critics on both the left and the right are excoriating the National Security Agency. In New York, the police are ending their mapping program to find out areas where a terrorist might seek a job or shelter. And so on.
Boston strong, America strong — yes. But only if the intel is strong too.