From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Terrorist threats and airline security.

Hello again, I'm Mormon Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans count about most.

A jet plane from London to Washington, D.C. was forced down in Boston today because an unruly female passenger

caused some disturbance. In Britain, police have arrested a 24th suspect in the airline bombing

conspiracy, and they're trying to extradite another suspect from Pakistan. On To the Point, we'll get

the latest on those developments, and what they reveal about airline safety and the war on terror.

Were British investigators pushed to go public by making arrests before they were ready?

Is Pakistan in accord with the West, against it? Or both? Is the so-called war on terror being fought more by intelligence agents than soldiers.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John

D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Warren. I'll be back with To the Point. British officials are still trying to unravel the plot to blow up airliners headed for the United States.

On To the Point, did political pressure force arrests before intelligence agents were ready?

Where does Pakistan really stand? Are spies more important than soldiers in the war on terror?

First this news update, F-15 fighter jets escorted United Flight 923 into Boston's Logan Airport today.

It took off from London and had been headed for Washington, D.C., until it was diverted because of a disturbance aboard the plane.

Peter Howe is aviation reporter for the Boston Globe.

Peter, welcome to you.

Thanks, Warren.

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