[MineralMan]

"It's not the hijacking that is the worry now; it's the blowing out of the sky with concealed explosives.

A hijacker who tried to take over a plane these days would be lucky to escape with his life after the rest of the passengers got through with him."

Not to mention the reinforced cockpit doors. But you're right. That's why things like prosthetic legs get checked. to reduce weight, they're generally hollow. A perfect spot for concealing things. Sure, that guy's mom-in-law is probably the salt of the earth, but she's a total stranger to the security screeners. I know some older women I wouldn't trust on a plane. One is schizophrenic and is constantly ranting about the evil government agents that are everywhere around her. She should not fly...she's a dangerous person.

Everyone's mother-in-law is a stranger to the security screeners. It's a big country, full of a lot of wierd, wierd folks.

[quidnunc]

But when all is said and done TAS is hassling people who do not deserve to be hassled for no other reason than to demonstrate that they are even-handed and not engaging in racial profiling.

The Israelis have offered to train our people in their security methods, but so far we have declined the offer.

Unlike us the Israelis don't look for contraband so much as they look for terrorists, but this involves profiling so we probably won't do it no matter how effective it might be.

[Chemist_Geek]

One is schizophrenic and is constantly ranting about the evil government agents that are everywhere around her.

What's her FR screen name?

[Mulder]

It's a big country, full of a lot of wierd, wierd folks.

And all of us "weird folks" have Constitutional Rights.

If you don't like "weird", why don't you try fascist China or communist North Korea. There aren't too many weird folks there, as they all follow the rules and are good little slaves to their totalitarian regimes.