By now, you would have thought the “Apple vs. FBI” showdown would have gone away. It’s still here. It’s getting bigger. Generally, these kinds of showdowns happen behind closed doors with lawyers collecting big fees. But this one has become a public relations high-stakes-cage match — although no doubt the lawyers are still collecting big fees. Who is going to capitulate?

Likely, Apple will be forced to help the FBI, as it should. But in the end, even if this one phone is accessed, a bigger cost has been paid. The United States will have won the battle but lost the war. Terrorist attacks cannot happen without the aid of mobile technology. As it makes your life function, so it does for the bad guys.