Originally Posted by bbc1969
You are correct, the pay is good. my question is can you tell an Al Qaeda member by looking at him or her. For that matter can you tell a KKK member by looking at them, or for that matter any other extreme org. member? Or for that matter an individual with some form of mental problem, or frustration, or axe to grind that decides to "follow the lead" or do his own reenactment?
Of course these assertations will be viewed by many as foolish, but havent these types of things (various forms of violence against the innocent) happened many times, in many different settings in our world, let alone nation? When it comes to criminal acts, or violence against the innocent, in the context of history, it repeats itself "daily". Better to be on guard now, than to play the "I told you so", "who would have thought", "I had no idea they could do it again", "shocking loss of life" game all over again.
No, IMO, it is not better to "be on guard now" by wasting countless dollars (and lives, like yours) sitting around airplanes looking for terrorists that aren't there. Better to replace the flight deck doors with secure ones (already done), give the pilots what they should have had on September 11, 2001 (which might have help prevent some of the tragedy) - namely, GUNS, and to alter the protocol when lunatics attempt to take over an aircraft (which has been done). All in all, a more sensible (and cost-effective) solution.
Thousands of sky marshals could then be put to better use actually defending the country from realistic threats (instead of "policing airplanes.") Instead, they sit on their ... all day long enforcing the "no-pee rule for 30 minutes out of DCA" and occupy at least two seats (often of the premium variety) on hundreds of flights daily.
But the last war will be fought, over and over again, until the terrorists attack us through some underprotected flank - perhaps made more vulnerable because of the waste of energy "guarding the skies" in the form of Sky Marshals.