IMHO, a passport and/or national ID card (as in Germany) SHOULD be required to board any aircraft. Alternatively, an extension of the INSPASS programme, which for those who are not aware, is not just a photo ID hooked into the INS database, but also involves biometric (palmprint) recognition.

Is this an infringement of civil liberties ? Yup, sure is, but how come the rest of the world lives with tight airport security and the US can't ?

Secondly, will this stop a determined terrorist ? Probably not, but it would have a strong deterrent effect...ask yourself why there has NEVER been a terrorist attack on an El Al flight ? If a group of terrorists were determined enough they could hijack any aircraft, but why go to the trouble of beating the many Israeli security procedures when you can just hijack a US domestic flight ?

Personally, I have flown on El Al and other carriers to/from Israel, and never have I felt so safe from harm on an aircraft. Sure it takes longer to get through security, but everyone boarding those aircraft understands the reason why.