Last Friday Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced that the government had successfully identified, infiltrated and brought down a “homegrown terrorist cell” with Al-Qaeda ties that had designs on blowing up the Sears Tower in Chicago.

After closer investigation, however, this appears to be more about government scare tactics and public relations for the Bush Administration than real anti-terrorist work.

First, the seven Black men who were arrested in Miami for terrorism were poor, disorganized, and altogether unprepared for terrorist activity. The group had no clear plans, no weapons, and little money. In fact, the groups didn’t have boots or uniforms until the federal informant obtained them for the group.

In addition to their lack of finances, the Miami crew seemed fairly unsophisticated in terms of their strategy. Unlike most terrorists who attempt to blend into the community, this group seemed to do everything they could to stand out. They sold Black hair products on the street, wore a variety of colorful and African-centered outfits, and practiced martial arts in public.

Although it is possible that more damning information will be released, this sounds like an overzealous government picking on some crazy but relatively harmless Black people.

Yes, they attempted to connect to Al-Qaeda, a group that is far from harmless. But the current evidence suggests that the group had no access to the Bin Laden’s organization until the federal informant joined the group and pretended to have a contact. Also, it appears that the idea of blowing up the Sears Tower also came from the government snitch. In fact, the group didn’t seem like much of a threat until the feds joined the group and organized it. Before then, this was more like a bunch of guys on the corner talking trash than an insurgent movement. Even the government described the group as “more aspirational than operational.”

The question is, “How realistic were their aspirations?” Based on the evidence, not very.

On the contrary, it looks as if the government has wasted precious time and resources trying to convince us that the “war on terror” is so efficient that even the most inept of terrorists will be caught. Unfortunately, while Bush and company try to convince us that we’ll go to jail for even thinking about terrorism, real terrorists continue to thrive.

And laugh.