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Since far more civil aviation passengers have been killed by terrorists than by accidents in recent years, we ought to assume that any crash is the result of foul play until proven otherwise.

I always found the Pierre Salinger theory preposterous (I find Pierre Salinger preposterous): the Navy doesn't launch missiles in Long Island Sound whether by intention or misadventure.

Conversely, a shoulder-fired missile is plausible if the aircraft was flying low and slow enough. Prior to 9-11, the NTSB's predeliction would have been to declare any incident an accident unless bin Laden bought an hour of air time during the Superbowl to announce he was responsible with video proof.

I'd told Stinger missiles are rather fragile. They can't be abused and fired decades later like the AK-47s and Enfields so dear to the Afghans.

On the other hand, I'm also told portable SAMs of all origins are readily available from state sponsors of terrorism and on the private arms market.

The Connecticut, Queens, Gander and Air India crashes all cry out for new investigations now that the blinders have been partially removed from our national consciousness.