I think they have been called up for a good reason. The Guardsmen help create a feeling among the more neurotic people that things are safer. Of course, getting rid of the Argen-not-bright thugs will do a much more, but that's for another conversation.

Look, for people who are on the road a lot, we don't even notice the Guardsmen anymore. And when we do, we just smile and wave and they do the same back.

But your average American, who flies like three times a year on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and one vacation, sees them and thinks, hey, things are okay.

That's very important, unless you don't mind watching the feds backing up loans of airlines that are going belly up.