What You Can Do

The brave reaction of Madrileños caught in the bomb attacks of 3/11 proves how resourceful people can be in the face of terror — even if they're unprepared. Public vigilance and advance planning can't eliminate the risk of attack, of course, but they can make plots more difficult to launch; they can help mobilize a fast, effective response if terrorists do strike; and — not least — they can help people overcome their feelings of powerlessness. So in the wake of the Madrid atrocities, governments and disaster-relief agencies are re-emphasizing what ordinary people can do to help foil a potential terrorist...