Sorry, Spiff, I like you personally but I can't agree with this. Argenbright aka Aren't-so-bright wasn't doing the job AT ALL. TSA is FAR from perfect, but is a heckuva lot better than the totally worthless private effort that proceded it. The security forces at UK and HKG airports, for just two examples, are under government control, and I don't see people saying those forces are ineffective or idiotic. Central control and the ability to quickly adapt pax screening measures to new potential threats nationwide ARE a good thing, IMO. Sure, consistency and effectiveness can be improved, but overall, I don't see going back to the old way as any kind of improvement.

The liquid exposives plot was not a joke. TATP could be fabricated in an airside restaurant kitchen, packaged in soda bottles, and carried aboard. Apparently a bunch of guys were bent on doing just that. Among many other potential methods of carrying out al-Quaeda's stated intent to take down airliners.

This forum seems to be mostly just a one-sided outlet for TSA-haters, not an honest debate over what ought to be done to make US commercial aviation a much less attractive terrorism target. Which is too bad.