[quidnunc]

MineralMan wrote: Here you go. Now, do you suppose there was any sarcasm in his voice? I'd guess so, based on the tone of his article. In fact, there was a hijacking by an American, and it was the one most recent before 9/11. He was wrong, you see.

I am a retired police officer with over thirty years os service.

Law enforcment officers — and that's what these TSA screeners are — are not allowed to take enforcement action for speech as long as there is no breach of the peace, and the peace of a law-enforcement officer cannot be breached by mere words.

[MineralMan]

"Law enforcment officers — and that's what these TSA screeners are — are not allowed to take enforcement action for speech as long as there is no breach of the peace, and the peace of a law-enforcement officer cannot be breached by mere words."

Can the TSA folks take action if someone leaves a bag unattended? Seems to me that they can, since there's an announcement about it every 30 seconds over the PA? You may have been a cop, but that doesn't mean you know all the regs involved with airport security. Try saying the word bomb, really quietly, to a screener. See how long it takes you to get out of the back room.

Sorry, but you're wrong, in this case. They didn't do a darned thing out of the ordinary to this guy until he stupidly left his bag sitting there while he went for coffee. He's an idiot, and is very lucky he made his flight.

"Please step over here, sir. Now, follow this officer; We have some questions to ask you."

Know what? You're going to have to follow the nice officer and answer his questions at the airport. It's the law.