There are still other alternative solutions that can be considered.
These searches are being carried out at airports by the government in violation of the everyone's constitutional rights, not by the airlines. If a plane does blow up, shouldn't it be the responsibility of the airline to ensure that they are providing a responsible and safe service?
Why do you think it is up to the government to declare everyone guilty until proven innocent just because they want to fly on an airplane, when the airlines are private businesses and the airplanes are private property?
I've been to airports in Europe (such as Schiphol in Amsterdam) where the screening is done at the gate, and the airport is essentially an open-air mall. I can't say whether it was the Dutch government or the airline itself that ran the gate-specific screening areas, but pushing the screening out to the airlines would take the government out of the equation, and it would be up to each airline to decide how invasive they wish to be without making it a federal or constitutional issue.
-PJ
Why do you think it is up to the government to declare everyone guilty until proven innocent just because they want to fly on an airplane, when the airlines are private businesses and the airplanes are private property?
I don't. The airlines need to get rid of the GOVERNMENT employees of TSA, and hire specially trained private citizens to do the job. They should quit the RANDOM selection process, especially when it excludes Muslims.
BUT, they would have to do it soon, as the FEDS are trying to change the law to make the TSA - gov't employees only, a permanent deal.