I also refuse to have an irrational fear of silverware. If someone comes at me with a fork stolen from an airport restaurant, I think I'll be able to fend them off.
I DID think that it was interesting, though, that airlines are allowed to detain only two 'minorities' per flight (I'm assuming that I read that right). If there are 20 suspicious Arabs (or caucasians, or blacks, or Indians, or....) on a plane, I think that I'd like to see them all talked to.
"Good Point. You also need to read the entire article to find that the questionable men were thoroughly checked out and cleared."
That means only that they weren't on any watch lists. The terrorists are smart enough to recruit fresh martyrs who haven't drawn attention to themselves.
So they were cleared. That is no assurance that they weren't in the trial phase of the operation. And at the end of their numerous trips to the john, the head guy signaled the other with a forefinger to his throat and mouthed the word "no". That meant, to me, that they planted the various components of the bomb and it wouldn't set to go. Meanwhile, I imagine the plane was scoured for evidence, including the various refuse receptacles.
If a group of Islamic fanatic suicide bombers wanted to blow up a plane of passengers and no one intervened until it was absolutely clear there was a bomb, then the passengers can all kiss their asses goodbye. They and the suicide bombers are all going to be dead unless the agents on board can overwhelm them and prevent them from detonating the bomb.
As if they'd send guys who were on the no fly list to do a dry run. It's only after the fact that one gets put on the list.