Topic: Airport security insanity

[Cobra951]

The way we live is open enough to make terrorists rare; we are observant enough to prevent most of the terrorist plots that exist, and indomitable enough to survive the even fewer terrorist plots that actually succeed. We don't need to pretend otherwise.

I have this image of some scruffy-looking mid-Easterners pointing and laughing their asses off at the news coming out of this country and through their TVs since that incompetent Nigerian lost soul tried to blow up a plane a few days ago.  The reality of what happened is no more significant than an apartment-building fire that all occupants survived.  The reaction to it is pure insanity.

Why bother to invest in an expensive, truly destructive terrorist plot?  A complete boob with a firecracker can bring the country to its quivering knees.  The fear-driven frenzy is an excruciating embarrassment.  The sudden impotent restrictions on air travelers must be great comedy to our enemies, a sweet source of mirth and jubilation.

While I don't agree with everything in this article, it is a noteworthy read on our worthless, self-damaging domestic approach to terrorism.  I do consider organized Islamic terrorists enemy combatants who need to be taken seriously.

[idolminds]

I couldn't agree more. Plus its funny to watch all these new "security" regulations come into effect, because if you sit and think about it for 2 seconds you realize its not going to do ANYTHING to make people safer and just ends up making flying a bigger pain in the ass than it already is.

I think terrorists don't hate America, they hate the airline industry. They are doing a good job of running them out of business.

[Cobra951]

Yes.  Exactly.  They are doing us great harm, the airline industry and travelers in particular, with almost no risk or investment.  Or rather, they know we will do the harm to ourselves in fearful overreaction to their antics.

[scottws]

I saw an "expert" on the Today show yesterday.  He defended the tighter security measures, saying that we need to stop being reactive to failed or discovered threats and be more proactive to prevent unknown threats.  He seemed to miss the fact that the tighter security measures are just another example in a long line of reactive measures!

I too think it's ridiculous.  There is no way to defend against everything and I agree with the author that the more we turn our society into a police state, the more the terrorists are winning.  I also agree with Cobra and disagree with the author that organized terrorism is not the same as common criminals and need to be treated as enemies.

[iPPi]

Airport security is all for show and nothing more.  I don't travel too often anymore, but last year I went on a couple of business trips and had a mini screwdriver in one of my carry on bags.  I forgot I even had it in my bag and airport security didn't notice until I think on my 4th return trip?  No fuss though and I was just like, 'oh, throw it out, I didn't even remember I had that in my bag.'

[scottws]

There was an article on salon.com from some pilot that said they confiscated a butter knife he had in his carry on.  He said they even measured the distance between the serrations or something like that.  The story was prompted by a conversation he had with another pilot who had one of his baby son's teethers confiscated because it looked like it might be over that 3 oz. liquid limit.

The butter knife story seems a little far-fetched to me (why was there a butter knife in his carry on?), but either way these are examples of the retarded lengths the TSA goes to to support this charade.

[Cobra951]

Fareed Zakaria chimes in, basically joining the general consensus here.

[ren]

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199

A solution.

[Schlotzky5]

Interesting, but its way too subjective to ever get implemented here.

[iPPi]

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199

A solution.

Interesting methods.  I think it would be difficult to implement this solution in its entirety in North America -- there are too many airports and people going through them.  We can definitely use some of their methods though, such as have blast proof glass, and blast proof boxes at the ready and personnel ready to take care of it on a whim's notice without having to evacuate the entire airport.

[Raisa]

geez, if you're meant to die on a flight, whether if it's caused by another human or not, you will.. no matter how many security measures they put in place, if it's time, it's time.

i really don't want to go a-flying now cause of the security checks.. last time i flew i had to go through 3 security checks

[scottws]

Long lines at security are just another target for a bomber.  Someday it will happen.  What then?  Another security checkpoint to get to the security checkpoint?  I mean come on, something has to change.  Airports should be like bus or train terminals.  You shouldn't have to arrive at an airport two hours before your flight because there is a chance security will take too long to go through.