A death in Miami.(Rigoherto Alpizar)

"From what we know," stated White House spokesman Scott McClellan after federal air marshals gunned down 44-year-old Rigoherto Alpizar in Miami, "the team of air marshals acted in a way that is consistent with the training they received.... It appears they followed the protocols and did what they were trained to do.... We are very appreciative for all that the air marshals are doing to protect the American people."

Assuming that McClellan's assessment is correct, and the summary execution of Mr. Alpizar by the air marshals was carried out according to federal "protocols," we may have more to fear from the government agents "protecting" us on planes--and now on buses and trains as well--than from al-Qaeda.

"Somebody came down the aisle and put a shotgun to the back of my head and said put your hands on the seat in front of you," recalled passenger John McAlhany in an interview with Time. Amid the confusion and tension that ensued when Alpizar bolted from the plane, McAlhany and the other passengers had been ordered by the flight crew to hit the deck. But McAlhany was talking on his cell phone with his brother and "looking through the seats to see what was coming" and to take action if he saw an attack coming. His assailant approached him from behind and "karate-chopped" his cell phone away. "Then I realized it was an official," he explained. "[The air marshals] were pointing the guns directly at us ...