This is absurd. This guy was clearly at least testing airline security, if not about to undertake some evil action, and we place him on probation? And send him back home so he can scheme with his handlers!? We are such idiots.
You are right. It is absurd to deport someone for carrying boxcutters aboard an aircraft. The idea of banning anything with an edge is absurd. This is political correctness gone insane. 9-11 didn't happen because hijackers carried boxcutters aboard an aircraft. It happened because we followed the victim compliance policy: Don't resist, give them what they want, leave it up to the Authorities.
A 9-11 type attack can not happen again because passengers and crew will not allow it to happen. This guy wasn't trying to sneak the items aboard. If you read the case, it is clear that he just didn't think about them because they are such innoculous items. Anyone who wants to can sneak cutting implements aboard an aircraft. The current rules are just image, all for show, and have no real security effect. Their ownly real effect is to make Americans all the more cowed and willing to accept higher levels of official harrassment.