Who is really behind the idiots?

Something struck me last night while browsing the evening news and talking head shows. There was the constant debate on how to best crack down on airport security and finding these "terrorists" before they strike, etc... There was the usual debate about racial profiling, more security on airlines, more pay for TSA agents (whom they won't let unionize), better intelligence gathering, etc. But what about this:

What if the "Shoe Bomber" and now, the "Underwear Bomber" were really just mules? Individuals recruited by some secret agency to merely keep striking at the false fears of this international "boogieman" we call terrorism? If, and I still have my doubts, Al Queda was behind 9/11, and able to coordinate the simultaneous hijacking of 4 jetliners. Pilot them with military like precision and hit 3 of 4 targets. Murder over 4,000 citizens in the worst attack on US Soil since Pearl Harbor. Why then would their next attack be a college dropout with some sort of explosive strapped to his balls on a flight bound for Detroit? Detroit?!?! The Shoe Bomber had a shoe with a fuse and was trying to light it on a plane where you know other passengers were ready to stomp a mud hole in the ass of anyone doing something stupid.

It seems to me that these two examples were doomed to fail from the beginning. Poor plotting and planning. The London bombings of several years ago were a coordinated simultaneous attack, aimed at public places, with the goal of not only death and destruction, but visual lasting impact. It seems that every time the public's fears seem to die down and lull because of a lack of interest, one of these dumb asses sneaks through our security net and attempts to pull off the equivalent of passing off a $1million dollar bill at your local Wal-Mart.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be vigilant, aware, and protect our great country. But if our country were doing all it could to protect us, why are the idiots still ALMOST getting through?

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.