Originally Posted by
TSORon
One system, one measure, one approach, is not going to work to stop those who wish to do harm to US citizens. ALL of them must be used. The US Government would be remiss in its duties to its citizens if it did not provide the very best it could to prevent another major terrorist attack.
. . .
Many of you will say that it isn’t. Well, you are welcome to your opinion. I disagree, as does the vast majority of the public, as does the government, as do the vast majority of the recognized experts in the field. Some don’t, but that is opinion as well. It’s all opinion. But the proof is in the pudding, right? So the only relevant question is, if the government is doing such a poor job of providing a safer environment for commercial aviation in our country then why has there been no major follow-on attacks against US commercial aviation targets since the events of 9/11/2001?
As Halls said: Arming pilots, reinforced cockpit doors, philosophical change in hijack resistance strategies, passenger intervention.
Apparently, you missed the big news last month and last year, and in previous years that brought us the war on shoes (shoe bomber), the war on water (don't remember why this one started), the war on underwear and the latest installment: the war on printer toner cartridges.
I'd submit, contrary to your assertion, that there have been major follow-on attacks on US commercial airlines. Well publicized attacks. Attacks that the TSA has attempted to capitalize on to justify itself. The fact that these attacks have been unsuccessful is not due to TSA/DHS interventions
even when TSA was provided advance notice that an individual would make an attempt. This must be truly bitter pudding for the TSA to eat.
So, instead, we half strip (belts, shoes, winter coats, sweaters), get felt, porn-o-scoped and our possessions rifled and pilfered. And attacks still happen. The change is these attacks have been thwarted. By private citizens acting in their own best interest according to their abilities. A change in response that happened even before the last aircraft on that clear September morning could be used to execute its mission. Before the government advised such a change in response. Without breaching the fundamental limits on government our founding fathers provided.
Your agency, more than any other has demonstrated that these limits on government powers are absolutely necessary to a free and democratic society.