Too close to (a possible) reality

The excellent TV show 24 premiered in the fall of 2001, right after 9/11. Hitting too close to reality, the very first episode was edited to remove a graphic depiction of an exploding passenger jet. Since then, we've had five full seasons of fictional terrorist attacks using guns, bombs, biological weapons, and nukes. The hero of the show, Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, has become synonymous with the uber-cool, ultra-confident and always right counter-terrorist agent who, of course, doesn't exist in real life.

The sixth season premiered on Sunday and Monday. The situation is grave in the 24 universe. Eleven weeks of terrorist attacks on US soil have left the government desperate and the populace panicked. Nearly a thousand people have been killed by a string of bombings that seem to happen any time and anywhere. The administration has begun setting up internment camps to hold Muslims and Arabs, more in hopes of calming people than in actually stopping the attacks. All is not lost, however, as Jack Bauer is back, baby!

Since 9/11, the US has been incredibly fortunate not to have experienced another attack on US soil. England and Spain have both been attacked and Iraq is awash in blood. But for some reason, whether it's US counter-terror efforts, a lack of effort on the part of Al Qaeda, or simple good luck, we haven't been attacked. Frankly, five years after 9/11, this really surprises me.

It doesn't seem like it would be that difficult for these terror groups to get people into the US and create some random violence. Any such attacks would be far more devastating than the actual damage done as most US citizens would undoubtedly panic (witness the last five years). I imagine calls for internment camps would be heard immediately and, given that the current administration doesn't look too keenly on civil liberties to begin with, I'd be shocked if the administration didn't come down with some draconian security measures right quick. I have to believe that eleven weeks of actual terror attacks would lead to the invocation of martial law.

All of this makes the season of 24 so far rather chilling. It seems more real and topical than past seasons because the story it's telling could have been, and still could be, our reality.