How about actualy performance standards? If an employee acts abusively, either overtly or through the maniuplation or invention of "rules", fired. If one of the test teams that tries to get bomb materials, weapons, etc., thorugh a screening point succeeds, the security team on that line are fired. If that means we have to raise salaries a bit to actually attract somebody competent, so be it. Perhaps we could save a bit by extracting ourselves from certain very expensive overseas adventures (or at least not setting up base camps that resemble small midwestern towns, complete with fast food outlets).

As opposed to what we have now that's a downgrade?

I think that is a possibility.

My personal belief is that if there was any chance of further attacks inside the U.S., they would have been carried out by now. Luckily, there have not been any and no credible reports of real plots being foiled exist.

However, here are a few simple truths I believe most eight year olds around the world might understand...

1) If you want people to like you, you have to be nice to others.

2) If you don't want to be attacked, you should not attack others.

3) If you support people who like to attack others, those being attacked will not differentiate between you and the actual attackers.

out of curiosity, if TSA had prevented an actual attack, do we doubt that they would be trumpeting it?

actually, i'm a little surprised they haven't made one up. think of how quickly people would be willing to repeal the constitution then.

Lisa, I'd like to buy your rock.

First, it was bears, not tigers.

Second, shame on you for plagirmism.

Mike

While the episode mainly involved bears, the rock did indeed have to do with tigers. Via snpp.com:

Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
[Lisa refuses at first, then takes the exchange]

Source already copiously cited in other instances of quote/use. :p

And here we cynical civilians thought it was because the General calls "The Senate is on my butt, asking about the value of that $50 billion no bid cost plus contract we gave Hughes Aerospace for those night vision goggles. Quick, go use them at night so we can justify them." :D

I bow my head in shame.

Mike

The key is "enemies determined to do harm". Money has to come from somewhere to pay for this dog and pony show. That means it isn't somewhere where it could do more good (either in health care or the military or intelligence gathering or just in the hands of the taxpayer where it can strengthen the economy, depending on your point of view.) So harm has been done.

Further harm has been done in the additional costs of doing business that involve air travel. Current and upcoming restrictions make it almost impossible for us to continue to do US based work (formerly up to 80% of our business.) Other people simply no longer travel affects their enjoyment of what life has to offer.

Finally, why use planes again? BTDT, find something new and startling, don't stay with the same-old, same-old. Since the Cole was attacked there haven't been any other attacks on US ships. Does that mean the work by the ports equivalent of the TSA has protected all US battleships? No, because there isn't a TSA equivalent for ports. The terrorists moved on.

I have a plan courtesy of Carlos Mencia, put at least 3 of Southwest's passengers on all the other carriers and nothing will happen due to this incident.... On August 11, 2000, passenger Jonathan Burton broke through the cockpit door aboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1763 while enroute from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City. Burton was restrained by other passengers, in defense of themselves, and ultimately died of the resulting injuries. ^ :D

Specious

It's spacious in the South.

That article could have been published on Sept 10, 2001 and all the arguments would have been the same.