Excluding congresspeople and judges does nothing to help streamline the screening process, as there are only a few thousands of them.
Instead, it will be perceived as an insufferable privilege by the "normal" population.
Hope they'll think about that and not exempt themselves from being checked.
On seconds thoughts, I'm not sure those people care what the common folks think...

I think the reinforced cockpit doors go along way to alleviating that. The only way those doors are opening is if someone on the other side opens them.

Very true. However, there are some that are under cover at any given time, and some of the programs DHS has proposed could put those in jeopardy. And as I said before, there are some organizations who aren't thrilled with those programs.

You're right. The hijacker, David Burke, was a ticket agent for USAir. He was on an unpaid leave of absence, travelling on a paid ticket aboard PSA 1771.

Any of you guys know who this michaelchertoff guy is that's now posting here?

I didn't think posts about other posters were permitted. Well, allowed by the rules, in any case.

As to who I am, why on earth would you expect to have any standing to find that out, given your oft expressed demands that your travel "privacy" be respected, even at the cost of the safety of others?

Something of a conundrum, no?

Rules don't prohibit asking about who someone is. Asking who "idiot named xxxxxx" is.

Just want to know who I'm dealing with, friend.

I didn't think privacy would matter to you, seeing as it's an "empty headed principle." I mean if it makes us safer knowing who you are ... why should it matter, to use your words?

LOL. Good to see my suspicions about the depth of your principles turned out to be dead on.

Anyways, ask away. And remember that you had the "right to do so" the next time you pass through security.

Something tells me that there are "lots of differences" between your rights and mine.

Don't you have to go school tomorrow? You need your sleep. Or does your school start later?

You know, that's bull**** too. Or rather it's not but you know exactly why these things should be prohibited. The problem with the US is that some people confuse common sense security with some kind of attack on their freedom and lump it in with stuff like shoe carnivals. Carrying weapons on flights and having your shoes left on at security are not the same deal which ever way you cut it.

Shoe searches are idiotic and provide a facade of security where asking people not to carry weapons is a useful measure. I'm not talking about weapons as nail files, scissors and letter openers here, just hunting knives, swords, throwing stars, bows and so on. We've had this for decades in Europe and I don't feel opressed.

See another article at http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel...l=chi-news-hed

If you ask me, we have too much "common sense" security. What the govt really needs to do is get people of average intelligence together in a room and ask them to pretend to be terrorists and plan an attack on an airliner using only what is allowed. Out of that, I suspect you'd discover that real security would involve banning cell phones, laptops, powercords and battery powered consumer electronics of all kinds.

Your emphasis on small knives and throwing stars reminds me of an anecdote a friend told me about some German friends of his. They carefully wrapped all of their meat while cooking to avoid any charring (cancer risk, you see), while all along they chain-smoked cigarettes.

The real answer is not to ban "things". The only way to stop terrorism on airlines is to stop the people who might commit acts of terrorism. The focus on material items is pretty ridiculous.

True, there are lots of things you need to do but it seems to be a no-brainer to say "You know sir, that handgun needs to be checked" rather than saying "It's either naked and without posessions or fully kitted like a Navy SEAL on the way to combat, one or the other".

The point I was making was that there's no reason to carry throwing stars on a flight so why even take the risk that someone may use them. Some things have no utility on a plane whatsoever (although I suppose if you get into a fight with a frequent flyer ninja then the throwing stars, caltrops, swords and tiger claws may be useful) and as such should prove relatively easy to get people to agree to. The fact you can't carry some things is not the same as having to be strip searched on the way into the airport and I think it's important to view them as separate issues.


Good luck on that one, be sure to contact the White House, Downing Street et al when you find the answer.

I talked to some pilots yesterday and they were very concerned about the knifes being allowed, throwing stars, etc. One was a flight deck officer and he was opposed to the crew being exempt also. I think the shoes should be allowed and if you alarm the walk through get secondary screening.