I have flown back and forth to Israel on El-Al many times since I was in
the 1st grade - quite regularly while I was a teenager. Admittedly, I
haven't been back since before 9/11, but as rude as El Al people are
(especially the Flight Attendants), I am quite sure that they don't
confiscate pen-screwdrivers from their customers in the name of security.

And I also can tell you that we were poked fun at their security questions
from a very early age. ("Did you pack your own bags? Are you carrying any
bombs? Are you a good witch or a bad witch?")

I have flown through many airports since 9/11. I have been wanded two or
three times, and have not complained (much). I do believe there is
potential benefit (though not a failsafe) to check ID once, to scan people
for weapons. and to make sure that the people who get on the plane match
the bags that get on the plane (although even that may matter less now that
every bag gets X-Rayed). I don't complain that the TSA uses unpublished
blacklists for flagging passengers who require additional security
attention (El Al has been known to do this for a very long time, and I
believe the airlines have done this since before 9/11). In fact, I believe
airlines would be well served to cooperate in researching passengers before
they get on their planes.

I am not upset that the screwdriver was found, or even identified. That's
not the problem.

The problem is that they claim to be protecting the public, but basically
the process itself, at least in this case, was exactly the opposite. While
they were "protecting" me, they left my laptop exposed, sitting at the end
of the counter for anyone to stuff in their bag and take as their own.
While they were "protecting" me, they stole my favorite pocket screwdriver
and left me no options for keeping it except missing my plane and staying
another night in Erie or Pittsburgh. Their "high security" environment
protects Tom Ridge very nicely, since it's his name on the airport. But
quite frankly, they have taken the process too far and left gaping holes in
their own system.

Airport security is federally regulated, but apparently each airport has
its own rules. (As another example, LGA still requires you to show your ID
again upon boarding. Even the gate agent was making wisecracks about this
"security policy".)

I'm not advocating that we shouldn't have any security at airports
(although busses and trains seem to do OK without it). But when all of
this happened, I had flashes of Bernie Geotz dressed as a pilot wielding
his loaded pair of tweezers.


Jeffrey Voight wrote in news:_JMUb.14939$EH5.1447
@nwrddc01.gnilink.net:

Just to advocate on behalf of the devil for a second--

Isn't it more likely that we're upset that we can't be so cavalier in
our security procedures? I happen to be a big fan of laziness (Hard
work has a future payoff. Lazy pays of right now.). I like being able
to breeze through airport security. That seems to have been taken away
from me. I like being able to take my leisure in getting to the
airport. That's been taken away as well.

I recently got to fly into and out of Tel Aviv. I got to pass through
El Al security both ways. At no time did I think to myself, "Wow, this
is a lot of security. These people must really be cowardly idiots."

I did, however, think to myself, "Wow, this is a lot of security. I
hope nobody figures out how to sneak a Palestinian/Iraqi/Anybody else
that hates the Israelis bomb on board."

It seems to me that it's a case of what-changed-itis. In Israel,
nothing's changed. We don't suspect El Al of encouraging cowardace. In
the U.S., we had a dramatic recent change. Suddenly, we suspect us of
severe cowardace.

And, to look at some of the other places from which I've flown, I've
seen some pretty lazy security and, I haven't always felt safe. Knowing
that one can purchase a quick ride through security in Moscow didn't
make me feel any better about the fact that I had just purchased a quick
ride through security considering that I didn't really have much money
on me, nor was I carrying anything remotely dangerous. It didn't seem
to matter to our friendly panhandlers in uniform. I had money and for
that money, they would turn a blind-eye to my baggage. Without my
money, we were going to be in for a long wait. Who had what in their
baggage and had enough money to purchase their way through behind me?

The lessor of two evils may very well be to allow the occasional attack
on U.S. soil. A couple of thousand dead every few years really doesn't
compare to how many die from smoking or car accidents especially when
held up against my desire to board the aircraft with my nail clippers.

Jeff...

C J Campbell wrote:
"Judah" wrote in message
...
|
| Or have we become a country of bumbling, cowering, idiots?

Bingo.