There was never much doubt that terrorists would try once again in a spectacular way to shatter our complacency and our way of life.

So, on one level, news that authorities in Britain (with assistance from Pakistan) apparently shattered a plot to blow up as many as 10 U.S.-bound airliners was not a total surprise.

While we could not have known the details, we had to know that something was afoot, somewhere.

What is impressive is the thoroughness with which British officials worked to thwart the plot. Solid shoe-leather police work and international cooperation put a stop to what would have been a catastrophe.

What we can count on now is a new round of security procedures at airports and other facilities that will further disrupt the lives and routines of travelers.

Terrorists might consider this disruption a minor victory. But that would be true only if we allow it to happen. We must continue traveling, we must continue on.

We cannot allow anarchists to seize control of our lives and our futures. We have learned to endure extra security screening at airports, down to the level of shuffling through checkpoints in our socks.

Now, we will learn to do without carry-on beverages and, soon perhaps, without the freight of laptops and other electronic equipment we have been accustomed to bringing along.

That's an inconvenience, to be sure. But it is a small price to pay to know that we are doing our part not to let terrorists, who think their violence will shutter our spirits, get the upper hand.