Much as it irks me, I will have to agree with Ron. TSA is there primarily to deter terrorists from accessing the secure area of the terminal.

You all jumped to disputing that the TSA has ever caught a terrorist. That they haven't (examples to the contrary PLEASE ) does not mean that nonehave been deterred by our vigilant screeners and SPOTniks. How many ? You'd have to ask the terrorists, but they probably aren't going to tell you.

Of course, all the other loopholes (or oppportunities depending who you are) still exist, and I don't see any attempt to deter say, driving a truck through the flimsy perimeter fence/gates, a suicide body bomber in the terminal or a drive-by massacre of the poor fools lining up on the sidewalk. Still, that's not Ron's job; it's err.., umm.., nobody's I guess.