Goose Creek, SC...Again

Two foreign Arab students were arrested after a routine traffic stop. Explosives--fireworks, according to the students--were found in the car. See here and here.

They might be terrorists or jihadis: dilettantes or pros. They might be punks. They might be damfool college students. They might be from privileged families and believe that they can disregard American laws.

We're at war. But if the detainees are not terrorists, they should not be tossed onto our ever-expanding flypaper of laws and regulations. If they're jihadis and/or terrorists, treat them accordingly. If they're not, give them a figurative slap on the rear end and deport them or let them go back to school, whichever is prudent.

Wartime authorities should err on the side of caution, but Goose Creek has made itself notorious. After the 2003 drug raid during which police burst into a high school with police dogs and guns drawn, Internet wags were calling the place Goose Step. (The incident has been settled for $1.2M.)

Time may tell.