One of the reasons they are pushing these machines is because they claim the machines will speed up the checkpoint process.

The biggest contributor to checkpoint delays has always been the need to disrobe and unpack, and now it's getting worse as TSA moves towards forcing pax to unpack even more: foods and anything paper must come out, as well as laptops and LGAs.

By ignoring one of the key features of the machines, their ability to speed up processing because of their superior capabilities, TSA proves once again that this is really about lining the pockets of connected contractors - and 'earning' huge TSA bonuses.

Slightly OT. One TSA administrator that failed at the single task he was assigned got an $80K bonus. Someone I know has spent time recently with a former TSO. The TSO had to relocate because of family issues. There was no airport nearby, so the TSO took another federal job. When the bonuses came around for that job, the former TSO went ballistic. When my friend asked if the TSA bonuses were better than $1500, the former TSO said the bonuses were 'thousands'.

There is a lot riding on the line - huge bonuses for everyone, including rank and file - to find some way to improve red team scores. The screeners aren't going to give up their private conversations and cellphones while working, so we have to keep buying more and more expensive equipment to do the job they can't or won't do. And then on top of that, we will pay them huge bonuses for the job the machines are doing.