In listening to the 9/11 hearings, I have heard, repeatedly, that there was "nothing effective which could have been done to prevent the 9/11 attacks without knowing a specific date and/or place."

They (the talk show hosts, in particular) repeatedly challenge anyone to name anything that could have been done to prevent the 9/11 attacks. They point out (correctly, in my opinion) that barring box cutters wouldn't have made a difference, because they could have killed other passengers with pencils or pens (still legal today). Reinforced cockpit doors wouldn't make a difference (there is on evidence that 9/11 involved physical break-in to the cockpit - to the contrary, the implication (as I understand it) is that the threat of killing more crew and/or passengers was the issue).

In other words, everyone admits that the system was are using today is *not* the answer. So why do we bother?

By the way, if the next attack is against trains, chemical plants, school busses, shopping malls, amusement parks, or some other target, will that be blamed on our not having enough notice that there are terrorists who want to harm innocent people? How soon until we are required to wear nothing but clear plastic clothing?