You know, I hadn't noticed this when it originally came out, but Pistole is admitting that the invasive gropes are retaliatory and that the immediate assumption is that anyone who opts out it a terrorist:
To a terrorist, facing these choices adds unwelcome complexity and generates opportunities for them to make a mistake or get noticed by a BDO.The case you mention, referencing passing through a Whole Body Imager, is a good example. You, like over 95% of passengers, can and do choose to go through the WBI -- quick, no touch, no talk, effective. Or, if you choose not to, you get to talk to us and have the more intrusive, hands-on pat-down and get tested with other kinds of explosives detection technology.
In other words, if you're not a sheep willing to be radiated and strip-searched, you will be subject to a much greater interrogation and invasive grope than you would otherwise. In fact, Pistole is admitting that the ETD is something that can't/won't be done by strip-search machine - and that it's done because the mere fact of an opt-out makes you a higher risk (which is total BS).
"Not retaliatory" - my ***.