The Sensible Body Scan Alternative 354
An anonymous reader sends in a CNN article that looks at airport security from more reasonable point of view, suggesting that looking for every last micro-gram of potentially explosive material is a waste of time, since very small quantities of explosives are unlikely to significantly damage a plane. The author also recommends incorporating parts of the Israeli method of securing airplanes — look for the bomber, not the tools. Quoting:
"Clearly everything should be done to prevent explosives getting on board an aircraft in quantities sufficient to cause structural failure and bring the plane down. But is it worth chasing lesser quantities that would result in zero or minimal damage? The enhanced pat-down that some find so offensive is designed to search for these small amounts. It often ends with a swab being taken to test for explosive residues. Technology does have a role to play, but imaging is not the solution. Operator fatigue sets in after short periods of time staring at computer images. That's why there are reports that contraband items have been smuggled through X-ray units used to scan carry-on bags. The aim should be to detect high explosive in quantities that are sufficient to cause significant damage. We don't need a machine that takes pictures of the human body. It makes more sense to develop a detector that clearly discriminates between high explosives and human tissue or water."
Re:Not profitable enough (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Israel has an actual existential threat (Score:4, Funny)
Send anti-gay religious wingnuts to protest at their funerals.
Re:Who have they ever caught? (Score:3, Funny)
And if they thought your can of Coke was really a threat, then why don't they treat you like a threat when they find it? Instead they just demand that you throw the POTENTIAL LIQUID EXPLOSIVE into a garbage can next to them.
Well, duh. If the garbage can explodes when they throw your Coke into it then they know it was a bomb, otherwise you're free to go.
No, if the garbage can explodes when they throw your Coke into it, that just means that the last guy threw pop rocks in it. Duh indeed.
Re:Who have they ever caught? (Score:3, Funny)
Sorry that would leave America unprotected. Can't do that. I suggest you move the TSA there and we can then see if terrorism in the USA goes up or down in Afghanistan.
Re:Not profitable enough (Score:5, Funny)
According to the Union-Tribune, when asked if the TSA was set up by Tyner, the local administrator coyly replied, "I don't know that it was an actual set up--but we are concerned that this passenger did have his recording [on] prior to entering the checkpoint so there is some concern that it was an intentional behavior on his part."
The TSA was set up just like the thousands of convenience store robbers are victimized by store owners having the audacity to have surveillance cameras running before the robbers walked into the premises to perpetrate a stick-up.
Just like the set-ups of cops videoed beating handcuffed suspects.
It's getting to where an authoritarian government goon can't even publicly strip a WW2 wounded vet or traumatize an autistic child without worrying about being "set up" by outraged bystanders recording the abuse.
Thank goodness we have Progressives from both parties in control of the government to protect us! I know Obama will be appearing on nationwide TV any second now to announce he's ordered the insanity to stop.
Any second now.
Really.
Just any moment.
Stay tuned!
Strat