[ChemistCat]

Random searches by the government without profiling (probably cause!) are illegal. Absolutely, totally illegal. The government is interfering between customers and airlines. The airlines are going out of business because they are unable to respond intelligently to the threat posed by terrorism; instead, they're having to be party to strip-searching Grandma. So you see, what you advocate doesn't work, is throwing the baby out with the bath water, and is illegal. And the most objectionable thing about it is that we--customers and citizens--have no way to petition our government for redress of these grievances.

The terrorists can get right through these searches, and will, whenever they decide the time is right.

[MineralMan]

You'll note that there have been no further hijackings of US Airliners in this country since 9/11/01. So, apparently the terrorists are _not_ getting through. You _say_ they can, but such has not occurred.

[general_re]

Random searches by the government without profiling (probably cause!) are illegal.

Profiling based on race or ethnicity is illegal. A checkpoint stopping people and checking their sobriety while on the road is perfectly legal, so long as is is reasonably effective in detecting and preventing impaired driving, and it is minimally intrusive to the driver. It's hardly a stretch to extend that to preventing weapons from being brought on to airplanes.