AP Photo

It took only a few hours after reports emerged of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed attempt at blowing up a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day for Internet wags to start making light of the incident, calling Abdulmutallab the "crotchbomber," the "jockstrap jihadi," and a member of the terrorist "brotherhood of the travelling pants."

Soon after, U.S. officials hit upon what must count as one of the greatest innovations in public security in years: mockery. Would-be suicide bombers now know that if they try, but screw up, their scorched underwear will be paraded before cameras for all to laugh at. Add that to the indignity of having your sad I'm-so-lonesome-I-could-die online ramblings read aloud on air by attractive young news anchors, and it...