real policing, not terror laws catches criminals

Following the Moscow airport bombing today read here we are likely to see a crackdown from the Russian Security forces against the predominantly Muslim Northern Caucasus, with the predictable round up of the usual suspects for their annual beatings and the like. But this of course will not solve the problem (in all likelihood exacerbate it?), and nor will blaming the perceived lax security at the airport. While less than enlightened governments rush to bring in draconian legislation in order to look tuff after a terrorist attack, there's very little evidence to show that standard competent police investigations wouldn't have brought in the same result. If the state is relying on bag searches at airports, train stations etc to stop a suicide bomber then they're in for a sad reality check. A potential terrorist needs to be caught at the plotting stage, ie alarm bells should be ringing when person X purchases excessive fertiliser, or components for other terror making equipment. This is how real police catch criminals, not rounding up "enemies" for a beating...which is valuable time lost looking for real criminals.