Article content continued

Belgian authorities explained that the gloves concealed the detonators each terrorist carried, a tidbit of information handy enough to know after the fact. But it’s intriguing to wonder how many stares the trio drew from passersby – or, for that matter, security personnel – as they wheeled their bombs into position. After all, a fundamental element of security surveillance – the kind exercised by humans rather than drones – is to search for what doesn’t seem right and zero in on it. Two men each deciding to wear a single glove may not in itself herald a suicide bombing, but certainly merited a second look, presuming anyone was actually looking.

Reports have suggested that the Belgian capital was already at a high state of alert in the wake of the arrest last Friday of a suspect in last November’s Paris bombings. Clearly, however, that level of vigilance wasn’t high enough. It’s likely that as in the case of the Paris attacks, official questions will be asked about how effective a job Belgian security did yesterday. It’s equally likely that sooner or later, the issue of funding for that security will be raised.

But it’s hard to imagine how a bigger budget would have done anything to change yesterday’s bloody outcome, if only because as comforting as it may be to some to be be able to place our trust in a multi-million dollar security establishment and all the high priced equipment that comes with it- it’s even more reassuring when that establishment actually knows how to put two and two together.

Montreal Gazette news columnist James Mennie can be heard weekdays at 4:35 p.m. on the Aaron Rand Show on CJAD 800.