Michael Chertoff, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, prompted howls with his entirely commonsensical suggestion that the federal government should focus most of its energy on trying to prevent truly catastrophic terror attacks using commercial aviation or weapons of mass destruction.

Michael Chertoff, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, prompted howls with his entirely commonsensical suggestion that the federal government should focus most of its energy on trying to prevent truly catastrophic terror attacks using commercial aviation or weapons of mass destruction. Chertoff was acknowledging the obvious--that it is, unfortunately, nearly impossible to secure mass transit given its multiple access points and massive numbers of fast-moving passengers. Chertoff also wants federal grants to states for "first responders" to be allocated on the basis of risk. Currently, Congress mandates that much of this money is doled out to every state equally, regardless of the likelihood that it might suffer an attack. The House passed a bill shifting toward a risk-based approach, but the Senate, where small rural states have a disproportionate influence, wants to keep larding cash on places like North Pole, Alaska, and Lenawee County, Michigan. All Chertoff wants is rationality. It may be too much to ask.