Flying blind: Airport screeners treat everyone the same. They shouldn't

National Post - Canada ^ | Saturday, August 12, 2006 | David Frum

[AndyJackson]

Then we both cant say a damn thing one way or the other because we dont know what the experts are looking at. .

Huuhh????? What experts?

I just said that it is dangerous to assume that a position taken by a feral gubmint bureaucrat is a position that would be taken by an "expert." It is safer to assume that the opinion of a genuine expert was neither asked for, nor was it wanted when the opinion was offered up, was ignored when it was provided. You have no idea how effective incompetent bureaucrats are at suppressing good adivce.

[Monti Cello]

I happen to not be suicidal when climbing on board an airliner.

Easy on the hyperbole, there.

Your odds of getting blown up in a plane are smaller than miniscule. Your odds of having to go through the indignity of taking off your shoes before you get on a flight is 100%.

Perhaps you think this too is a minor inconvenience....but it's the principle....goes back to that 'live free or die' sentiment, and in this case your odds of dying aren't large at all.

Every time I have to go through it pisses me off to no end, partly because its absurd to begin with, and partly because it's due to some isolated Islamist whack job with his failed effort resonating into the future and the lives of everyone with the assistance of our own wussified government policies.

[kellynch]

I'm not suicidal either, but have you heard of Kamikazis? They were suicidal, but not Muslim.

That said, it irks me no end to be treated like a criminal at the ballpark, the library, the airport, etc.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Its also not just about my sorry ass on that plane.
ANY aircraft lost will have massive ripple effects across the globe and our country. We cant let even one attempt be sucessful again.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Try life in Israel at the airport.
We got it easy.

[Fairview]

LIPSTICK? They're banning my LIPSTICK?? This, this is truly an outrage!

[Cobra64]

Lipstick too? They've already banned my face moisturer, my contact conditioning solution and cleaner, my contact soaking solution, my hair gel, my hair spray, my shampoo, my hair conditioning lotion, my deodorant (and this is truly a necessity in a confined space with people who don't shower on a daily basis), and my bottled water. When is enough, enough!

Wow! That's really sad. The good news is, they'll let you keep your Calagen, Botox and five litres of embalming fluid.

[Monti Cello]

massive ripple effects

That goes to the heart of my point - I don't think it has to be that way. We needn't get all in a tizzy, and then tiptoe around and alter our every action to bend to the actions of some whackjob Islamists. Such a reaction amplifies the limited power they have, and it's dismaying to see that our government would rather contribute to that amplification than risk offending tender sensibilities, particuarly those who are connected to the offenders. The better solution, and one which (I hope) we are pursuing, is to kick ass, use common sense, and carry on. Anyway I see your point though I disagree - good chatting with you - gotta get some work done - later.

[Cobra64]

It's the 'nail clipper' thing tha has so many of us flyers pissed off. It represents the absurdity of the rules set by the jerks in the TSA. Trying to confiscate lighters is another dopey idea.

TSA says that lighters burn longer than a match when trying to light a sneaker explosive. In the words of Rush, "I'm not making this stuff up folks!"

I carry a lighter in my pocket through security all the time. Along with a razor sharp ceramic pocket knife.

Most of this "security" is window dressing to make the sheeple more cozzy, warm and fuzzy.

[jetson]

Enough is enough. We need separate lines in stores, banks and airports for Mexicans,Muslims and any non speaking entity. If you don't speak english...separate line. If you are an illegal alien...separate line. If you are a muslim and look like terrorist....separate line. I'm tired of waiting in lines for non citizen dolts.

[graced]

"I carry a lighter in my pocket through security all the time. Along with a razor sharp ceramic pocket knife."

wow I feel safer already <sarc

[sockmonkey]

Every time I see that picture, my blood boils-My Dad (deceased now) could be that guy's twin-only my Dad would wear his WWII/Korea/VietnamVet baseball cap..

They would always poke him, prod him, and squeeze him down, and afterwards, because he was on coumadin, he would be covered in bruises that would never go away.

Since I know of no instance of eighty year old white men in wheelchairs blowing up planes, I have no idea why they continue to do this.

[dandiegirl]

Taking away lip gloss from 13 year old girls is beyond ridiculous.

[steveo]

I guess I could check my bag...

[GMMAC]

"Since I know of no instance of eighty year old white men in wheelchairs blowing up planes, I have no idea why they continue to do this."

I'd guess some moronic idea of "ah shucks, we're just tryin' to be fair." coupled with "... an' we wouldn't wanna hurt any body's feelings - like, say, 'Abdul's' over there."

btw, SHEESH !!!

[Cobra64]

I did it to prove to a fellow traveler friend of mine to illustrate how stooopid the TSA's policies are.

[Badray]

Suicidal is thinking that the TSA's or any other government entity will keep you safe. Most of their security is mere show for the sheople and utterly useless in stopping a committed terrorist.

[kellynch]

I know. My father has had to go there on business a couple of times, and it took a whole lot longer to get there than he'd originally planned. Luckily, the group arranging his trips was Israeli, and they were accustomed to dealing with the situation.

[rollin]

You got that right!!!

[garjog]

"banned in the United States; the first by the U.S. Congress"

This should be an election issue. Why do we have to wait three hours in line because of a small number of Islamic killers?

Let's vote out of office any politician who stands in the way of making this simple change: screen passengers for terrorism related potentials and keep them off the planes.