its lucky that leprosy isn't contagious then

None of these restrictions on carry-on items will stop suicidal terrorist attacks on airliners.
I�m convinced that it is only a matter of time (and a short amount of time at that) before one or more airliners are downed by terrorists with the explosives implanted within their bodies
The triggering-device could be anything at all. It might be via a cellphone (the next item to be banned from bringing onboard) or another electronic item, or something as unstoppable as a subcutaneous pressure switch - simply physically apprehending and manhandling the bomber being sufficient to detonate the device within his/her body.
This is not far-fetched. I�m quite convinced that it�s the logical and inevitable next step for the determined bomber. Denied the opportunity to carry an explosive device concealed in innocuous-seeming hand-luggage it is the certain near-future terrorist modus operandi.

So unless the root causes of terrorism are fully addressed we can all expect exponentially-increasing security checks, delays, and justifiable anxiety.

It is this kind of thinking that creates the loopholes that terrorists have tried to use in the past to carry out a plot. The 94 y/o grandma with somewhat limited mental faculties may have zero intention of bringing down a plane, but her walker or bag can be used by someone else to do so, with grandma being none the wiser. Thus the need to either perform global screening (with objective profiling to target those who warrant additional screening) or else don't screen at all and accept the risk.

Anyone who tries to implement racial profiling as a tool should immediately fired from TSA/DHS because it is ineffective discriminatory treatment. Al-Qaeda and its sympathizers have long since moved past using only Middle Easterners for attacks.

My 94 year old grandma does not use a walker or cane and does the New York Times crossword daily and to show us all up in pen. After 9/11 in October I was randomly choosen weekly for 6 weeks running. Skipped a week and then 7 weeks running skipping Christmas week as I did not travel. It did not make me feel a bit safer and once I got choosen three times in a day. Once at security once at plane side on my first flight and once on a connection. It is absurd.

Fair enough, but my point still stands - effective security is objective in nature, universal in scope, and refrains from the use of idiosyncratic -isms to the maximum extent possible.

Furthermore, Al-Qaeda and its allies have moved away from using Middle Eastern people- so who should be subject to "profiling"? Black people like one of the 7/7 bombers? Young white men like al-Qaeda John Walker Lindh and homegrown terrorist Timothy McVeigh?

Proctor and Gamble

Theory: Every traveler in the US who does not want to check (I am one of them) luggage will now have to buy 1. Shampoo 2. Deodorant 3. Toothpaste 4. Saline Solution when they arrive at their destination and then throw it all away before they return home.

P+G will report much better than expected revenues next quarter! Maybe I can make a killing and start travelling for FUN!!!!

All reasonable points but it is time that we figure out some way to increase the odd of catching someone. Picking out someone who travels for business regularly for the last 25 years in random searches does not make us safer. We need to figure out a way of triaging people so the odds are in our favor not the terrorist. Suggestions?

This would be one explanation why airlines would work so hard to limit their personnel. Where possible, they must ask themselves the question "is this person really needed as an employee, and can't they be a contractor, considering the expense of just hiring them?".

steve B.

Those of you who continue to say "profiling doesn't work"...I strongly suggest that you read the excellent article that was posted on Time.com last night about El-Al and their security measures, it's titled "The Toughest Airline Security of All" and is on their front page right now. Actually, here's a link:
http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...225479,00.html

There is no more revilied group in the Middle East than the Israelis, and I'd venture a guess that an attack on an El-Al plane is a terrorist's wet dream. But there hasn't been one in decades. I wonder why. Profiling does work. But it's not politically correct. Sooner or later, we'll have to determine if we (the US) are more concerned with political correctness or security.

FWIW...arguments about domestic terrorism are silly. Oklahoma City took place more than 11 years ago, we haven't had a similar instance since then despite no real security measures that would prevent another occurence. On the other hand, terrorists with a Middle-Eastern origin have shown plenty of wilingness to keep coming at us.

While profiling may (or may not) work, we all must agree that simply scrutinizing those that fit the profile is a bad way of handling things, because then two things happen. a) terrorists learn who is being scrutinized and who is not, and will use white people to pull of their atrocities, and b) we will let slip through those terrorists who don't fit the profile (Richard Reid for example).

Do you really see the root causes of terrorism being addressed GLOBALLY in our lifetimes? Whether it's militarily or by negotiating or by educating the potential bombers. I don't! So I guess as long as there are religious radicals educating young followers to kill westerners - - anywhere from mosques in Europe to caves in the mountains of the Middle East - - I guess we'll all have to put up with an increasing amount of crap, sometimes to the point of feeling like our civil liberties are being choked off, if we want to enjoy the pleasures of air travel. - - - or until someone invents a human fax machine - or transporter-like deivce from Star Trek!! (which to some degree I hope never happens as my entire livelihood is in the limo biz with 98% airport transportation!!)

Actually, as much as I fly, often times when I go through security, I've wondered why liquid chemicals / explosives couldn't get through. Then I just think that the US government (and others around the world) must know what they're doing and that all is OK!! Yeah, right! So, if I could think of it, and I'm sure other frequent travellers have too, what's stoppiing someone with a twisted mind - particularly someone who's educated and trained to think and act like a killer -from actually attempting to do something about it!!

Those things are great! I actually prefer them over the liquid sanitizer..... But as it stands right now, if magazines can't make it on the plane, can handi-wipes???

With all due respect, while one might agree or disagree with the new rules; the one thing I am certain about is that the TSA (or anyone else for that matter) was NOT taking into account Mileage Run activity. Nothing against MR's --- but, I don't really think there is much basis to complain. Remember, this is a totally optional flight activity.

I think we should all start wearing rubber gloves....

OT abit but... just had an image flash by me.... When it is your turn to "pass" in the security line walk right up to the TSA folks and "snap" the glove, extend your pointer finger and wiggle it around as if you were going to give "them" an exam....

Most guys >40+ know the routine and will likely have a "Pavlov's dog" kind of reaction when they hear that glove snap. It'll put a little fear in their heart.

Then explain El-Al's outstanding security record. A record established while being the no-doubt-top-of-the-list target for any terrorist worth his/her salt. You clearly didn't read the article. Reid would have crumbled had he been subjected to the kind of scrutiny that El-Al uses. At least be informed before you respond.