AS I WAS SAYING...

I boarded an aircraft last night for a flight across the Atlantic and a summer vacation with my family. I arrived this morning in another era entirely. Today's news has already had a staggering effect on air travel. As a writer to our blog put it today, "flying naked without luggage" may not be enough to solve this problem. I do know from our perspective here in London, and from conversations with Americans today, that this has increased the already-palpable sense of sadness and unease about our world, the dangers that surround us, and the challenges we will leave to our children. Some people I know are dealing with what can only be called dread.

We'll have our usual thorough coverage of this tonight. Keith Miller will start us off here in London, and our coverage will whip around the world back to the United States, where liquids are now banned from airplane cabins.

For now, and in this space, there is little to add to the story that Americans woke up to this morning. Here in London, the threat level (red) means an attack is "imminent" -- as one official here put it: "we are in a long, wide and deep struggle against a very evil people." It was minutes later when another official told people to try their hardest to "go about their business." It's getting that balance right that may mark the coming years.

We hope you can join us as we originate the broadcast from London tonight.