Why is the SAM issue over-rated when investigations have proven the availability of these weapons at discount prices in Pakistani arms bazaars as well as evidence of plans to smuggle them into the US via unprotected areas of the Mexican border...not to mention the ease of just keeping them overseas and using them there.

A few bullseyes with these around the world and you can probably kiss most of the civil aviation business goodbye worldwide as people will avoid air travel like the plague.

Threats from unscreened cargo should still be a priority, but terrorists use statements to make their point - bringing down planes with missiles will create far more fear and panic than an exploding cargo bay (which has been done before).

The continued focus on passenger screening does little to protect us from this credible threat. Money wasted on a bloated TSA budget is money that could go towards analyzing other threats and how to contain them. To me it's just more evidence that the entire airport security apparatus post 9/11 is just a sideshow to create a false sense of confidence in the public so they continue to travel.