Today's New York Time editorial blasts President Bush's speech yesterday on the War on Terror as "same old, same old:"

Yesterday, the same day New Yorkers were warned there was a "specific threat" of a bombing on their subways, President Bush delivered what the White House promoted as a major address on terrorism. It seemed, on the surface, like a perfect topic for the moment. But his talk was not about the nation's current challenges. He delivered a reprise of his Sept. 11 rhetoric that suggested an avoidance of today's reality that seemed downright frightening.

This is incorrect. First, President Bush's speech wasn't a "reprise of his Sept. 11 rhetoric." He spoke of specific issues that have developed since Sept. 11 that continue to this day, including:

*"In the past few months, we've seen a new terror offensive with attacks on London, and Sharm el-Sheikh, and a deadly bombing in Bali once again."

*"We're reforming our intelligence agencies for the incredibly difficult task of tracking enemy activity, based on information that often comes in small fragments from widely scattered sources, here and abroad."

*"(W)e're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of outlaw regimes. State sponsors like Syria and Iran have a long history of collaboration with terrorists, and they deserve no patience from the victims of terror."

Taken together, these statements show the President and the government are engaged in answering the new and mutating threat of the terror axis. And that was demonstrated yesterday by news that troops in Iraq helped uncover a plot to bomb New York City subways. Had Bush's speech been today instead of yesterday - when he couldn't reveal details of the new, New York al Qaeda threat - it would have been viewed in a different light.

Who's avoiding reality? Bush or The Times? Al Qaeda hasn't relented - not an iota - from its plan to kill as many innocent Americans as it possibly can. The terrorists' focus doesn't change - even though the domestic political landscape changes. Their focus doesn't change - even though President Bush's approval rating goes up and down. Their focus doesn't change - whether it's the hurricane season, tax season or rabbit season.

The Bush Administration has reformed the military, reformed the intelligence community, reformed homeland security. Ask yourself this question: If, during the Clinton Administration, the military in the Middle East had gotten a tip of terrorist activity in New York City, would that tip have been immediately shared with the FBI, the CIA and the NYPD? Or would there have been a wall in place to prevent the sharing of information?

The fact that President Bush views his responsibilities today through the prism of Sept. 11 might make some people stamp their feet in a huff. But in many ways it's allowing others to take the Q Train or the Lexington line in safety today.