So? Should we rduce aircraft security to the same level as buses and trains and give the terrorists a free run?

Are you telling me terrorists have free run of buses and trains?

Are you telling me terrorists have free run of buses and trains?

Yes in the context of this thread. The last time I travelled on the London Underground there were no searches. I just walked on carrying a case with no checks.

Let me qualify what I claim.1. person uses his/her 'cavities' to carry a stick (or half or whatever will do the job)2. he passes through all the airport screening in the US (he is a passenger, not a pilot)3. while en-route he then successfully detonates this stick inside himself or manages to pull it out and then detonates it.4. as a result of the above everybody dies and aircraft meets its violent endI claim that (4) would never occur based on things going wrong somewhere in the above chain.

Al Queda claims that (4) is not necessary to meet their aims.

Al Queda claims that (4) is not necessary to meet their aims.

But they claim many things, their goals keep shrinking, clearly their propaganda has to turn failures into 'victories', they haven't had too many of them recently.

But they claim many things, their goals keep shrinking, clearly their propaganda has to turn failures into 'victories', they haven't had too many of them recently.

They've claimed this from the very beginning. That is why they targetted the WTC, the most prominent symbol of the western economy. Killing is a means, it is not an end. The end is destruction via economic warfare. They have always been perfectly willing to kill the economy of the West by a thousand tiny cuts. Their goals have not shrunk. They've actually been doing a very good job accomplishing their economic warfare goals. They've caused the western governments to go insane and spend exhorbitant amounts of money on wars and "security" measures. They've caused the governments to turn against their citizens, as they look for that 1 in a million person, and turned their citizens against the government in so doing. As long as the western governments continue to allow themselves to be played as reactionary fools by Al-Queda, eventually they will cross a line with their reactions to Al-Queda and cause their citizenry to openly revolt against and bring down those governments.

They have always been perfectly willing to kill the economy of the West by a thousand tiny cuts.

Kevin, I don't see the economy being killed, either by 'small' or 'big' cuts. They may be perfectly 'willing' but whether they are getting there is completely different matter. Your claims about governments going insane or exorbitant amounts of money are IMHO sheer hyperbole. I honestly think you get carried away too much by Al-Queda's propaganda machine. Clearly are views are completely different in this matter.

They've claimed this from the very beginning. That is why they targetted the WTC, the most prominent symbol of the western economy. Killing is a means, it is not an end. The end is destruction via economic warfare. They have always been perfectly willing to kill the economy of the West by a thousand tiny cuts. Their goals have not shrunk. They've actually been doing a very good job accomplishing their economic warfare goals. They've caused the western governments to go insane and spend exhorbitant amounts of money on wars and "security" measures. They've caused the governments to turn against their citizens, as they look for that 1 in a million person, and turned their citizens against the government in so doing. As long as the western governments continue to allow themselves to be played as reactionary fools by Al-Queda, eventually they will cross a line with their reactions to Al-Queda and cause their citizenry to openly revolt against and bring down those governments.

What?In the makeup of western governments is the means to change them from within and externally, peacefully. And that happens all the time.Bob

In the makeup of western governments is the means to change them from within and externally, peacefully. And that happens all the time.

Correct, if people are so fed up with TAS, airport scanners, etc. this should cause many politicians to lose their jobs and fresh cadre being elected on promise of 'change'. We can wait and see if the next wave of political ads will feature airport security but I would not hold my breath.

Kevin, with all due respect, I think these guys really meant to bring down airliner and not to trigger another round of improved scanners or to bankrupt US or to cause further inconvenience for passengers. I don't think their Allah is satisfied with anything else than lots of deaths and destruction to infidels.

After the recent package bombs sent as ordinary air freight, they bragged about how little it cost them, and how much it's going to cost us. The bad guys, even in failure, are imposing their will upon us. We are, step by step, becoming more and more antagonistic towards our own government. To most of us, Al Qeda is a distant and unlikely threat, while the TSA is an omnipresent, nearby menace.In truth, our government's efforts have been almost pointless. The number of actual terrorists caught by the TSA is almost, but not quite, 1. On the other hand, they've caught a number of small-time drug users, and we've certainly been saved from the tyranny of Oprah-sized women smuggling 8-ounce containers of lotion and shampoo on board. At the same time, the government's own undercover tests show that most of the test explosives and weapons that they try to bring on to aircraft are not detected, making me wonder how effective all this intrusive screening actually is.I drive up Interstate 95 in New Hampshire to go skiing. This year, I discovered that they'd installed a new system for users of the "EZ Pass" toll transponder system. There's not even a booth. Instead, we drive right through two isolated lanes at 65 MPH, and the sensors pick up the transponder and debit my account. So, if we can do that, why can't we develop a scanner that will work without making me take off my shoes, belt, glasses, cell phone, watch and anything else not made of cotton or human flesh? Do that, and I'll be happy.