The mandated "random" secondaries are no more and breast-fondling has been backed off. That's about the only leeway the TSA has ever given. Otherwise, it's been all about expanding their role to keep them relevant in the public's and Washington's eyes.

From the start, they have mastered their craft. And I'm not talking about bomb detection....they have proven not yet fully capable of detecting them. I'm talking about a government agency built on emotions (just after 9/11) and with rules and laws that leave it with no transparency or accountability. Their operations were clearly designed with Teflon in mind. Question anything and you'll be familiarized with SSI and/or a cop.

Their original, core mission was to prevent bombs and prohibited articles from making it airside. Once they realized that there's no PR ROI on doing that plus growing public discontent with the agency, it became clear they needed to go onto the PR offensive. Hence the creating of "TSA Mythbusters" and what seems to be every little prohibited item catch getting trumpeted on the TSA website.

All of this while many reports, and I fully believe there are plenty of other reports that have not been leaked, of incapability of detecting bombs or its components. Chertoff and Hawley like to pound in our heads that we could die if the liquids rule is not in place. Whereas slipping bomb components right in front of the eyes of the people whose sole job is to detect them, they get barely a slap on the wrist and "remedial training."

Think about it....if a pilot botched a landing because of his or her own error (no mechanical or weather reasons), do you think he or she would be employed by the airline anymore?

When (it's not a question of 'if') another attack happens with airlines, you can damn well be sure that what the TSA does now will be paltry in comparison. The one thing the TSA have perfected is fighting the last war.