Oct 17 2007
The illusion of security
The TSA announced yesterday that it was loosening up restrictions on bulky head-wear and turbans no longer necessitating a search (unless the aforementioned head-gear sets off the metal detector). I found a gem of a quote in an MSNBC article discussing the change:
Experts say mixing up the screening techniques is good security. “We must use security measures that are unpredictable, agile,” TSA Administrator Kip Hawley told a Senate panel Tuesday.
What a total crock of shit. Since when has the TSA been “agile” or anything short of reactionary? All of the current annoyances amount to nothing but gross incompetence and lack of vision, i.e., taking off your shoes, limiting your gels and liquids, taking out your laptop, no matches/lighters, taking off your bra in public (yep they have made people do it), etc etc. None of these measures were pro-active or based off of intelligence, they were reactions to loonies.Â
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It does take a lot of unnecessary thinking out of dressing for a flight, though. For me, it’s slip-on sandals, shirt with pockets, shorts with no belt. I got busted once by a stick of gum in my pants pocket, so gum goes in my carry-on now. Ever notice that the whole thing plays differently in foreign airports?
I’d feel safer if everyone were required to carry a weapon and we had no security checkpoints.
Seriously, flying has never been safer than it is today. Anyone even giving the impression that they may being about to try something would no doubt be swarmed and beaten by every passenger that has a pair.