First, Take Off All Your Clothes...

Airports Warned About Terror Dry Runs July 24, 2007 - 9:35pm By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September. (WTOP)

TSA to the rescue. I certainly applaud them for confiscating those items that could be in just about any technician's bag or little old lady's shopping list, but why stop there? Let's face it. If the TSA wants to rule out any possible threat, the solution is simple.

1) Do not permit ANY item on the aircraft that has not undergone a thorough inspection. By this I mean the chairs, and other components of the airframe.

2) Do not permit ANY luggage, parcels or personal items to be taken on an aircraft.

3) Do not permit ANY passengers, staff or crew to access the aircraft without undergoing a full body cavity search, and changing into approved clothing AFTER decontamination/security check.

Essentially, if you are going to fly, it will be in all the luxury of a steel cage in a tyvek suit (that you will have to pay extra for). Expect that you will not be permitted to leave your seat for the duration of the flight and do not expect to receive any food or drink. Think 1970s Aeroflot without the frills of seat cushions.

This of course, is the same level of absurdity that is applied to computer security whenever there is some sort of outbreak. Essentially, pull the connections from the PC, put it a vault, encase the vault in concrete and bury the concrete to a depth of over 100 feet.

This makes the system unusable, but that is rapidly where the airline industry, with a big shove by the United States Federal Government is heading, rather than attempting to manage risk. Already, the casual travelers are looking at alternate means of getting where they are going, or are just not going. Business travelers, long the backbone of the airline industry are taking fewer flights as both costs for tickets and the hassle factor begins to take its toll. The trained person can do as much or more damage with a pen and a set of keys as they can with some form of explosive. This is not science fiction, this is fact. As a result, the United States is becoming immobile with fear and doubt while the terrorist continues to move around at his will. And that is a truly sad state of affairs.