You are correct that bomb dogs don’t give the government the same sense of power that the current procedures do. And I think that at least at the high level, that’s the whole point. Because creating a bomb dog program in replacement of the new scanners and gadgets they invest in would be just as effective, maybe even cheaper. Who knows if the Tea Party people will tackle this issue and apply the needed political pressure to get this crap changed.
Bomb sniffing dogs require highly skilled workers, another reason the current administration probably wouldn’t like it....not exactly an affirmative action low skill/high pay job.