Originally Posted by
KansasMike
Here are my suggestions:
http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspo...-security.html
In short: Dump the grope searches and nude machines. Keep the metal detectors and keep the swabbing for bomb-related chemicals. Keep or increase the scrutiny of checked bags and INCREASE the scrutiny of air cargo and INCREASE the scrutiny of the people who service the planes (there is nearly zero now).
Drop the liquids bad (= ban?) and shoe carnival. There is no significant threat there.
Most of all
stop overreacting! The whole point of terrorism is to terrorize. Unless you want to be fighting this war 25 years from now, we have to demonstrate to the terrorists that we will not be deterred.
+100
Plus: Drop the ID check and no-fly list. The ID check is merely a revenue protection scheme for the airlines and has nothing to do with security. A "no-fly" list has no place in a democratic society. If there is credible evidence that an individual is involved in a conspiracy to blow up an airliner, then there is sufficient basis to
arrest that individual. Otherwise, he should be left alone to fly (or not) as he wishes.
Similarly, there should be no carry-on baggage search outside of the metal detector (random or otherwise) unless it is determined that the bag contains items that pose a threat to the
security of the aircraft. Illegal drugs are NOT a security threat. Same for swabbing for explosives.
No need to remove computers from carry-on - any person seriously interested in using a computer as a ruse or device for the destruction of an aircraft should be quite capable of camouflaging it appropriately.
Some good old
common sense and
strict adherence to Constitutional protections should be
basic to any security regime.
I say all this as a very frequent traveler who is quite prepared to accept the consequences of living in what we used to consider a free society.