IMO, somone desperately needed to prevent a super-tragedy. They failed to prevent or even mitigate the horror of September 11 and thus needed a home-run. In their own little minds, they got that four-bagger two weeks ago. Banning all beverages serves to drive home to the recalcitrant skeptics and intellectuals just how darned serious this imaginary threat was.

Backing off the beverage ban (as you predicted would happen rather quickly) can not happen now without the skeptics asking very difficult questions like: "If they're safe on Aug 25, why weren't they safe on Aug 10 when screeners acted the part of thugs and bullies by confiscating medicine from sick children?"

And since there's no logical (or acceptable) answer to that question, the beverage ban (and the general liquid ban, subject to its myriad exceptions) must remain.

Still find lots of job satisfaction in being a TSA screener?