RedStatesUSA.com - The Majority, Silent No Longer

April 20, 2005

Stupid Airport Security, Part 3

By: Walter Williams

Several airport security screeners have sent me polite letters criticizing some of my comments in my last two columns, prompting this question to you: In managing our personal security, should we guard against possible or probable threats? Consider the measures and the resource expenditures I might take to guard Mrs. Williams and me against all possible threats to our security.

Amazon.com Widgets

Even though I live in Pennsylvania, well outside of tornado alley, I'd construct a tornado shelter because it's possible for a tornado to strike anywhere. I'd no longer get into my car and drive off without doing a thorough check of my car's hydraulic brake system for leakage. I'd build an iron-reinforced roof to guard against the possibility of a meteor. I'd also purchase a metal detector to do sweeps of my property, to guard against the possibility someone might have buried a land mine. I'd hire a detective and forensic accountant. Even though Mrs. Williams and I have been married 45 years, it is possible that she might be stashing some of my money into a Swiss bank account.

Were I to take those measures, I'm sure the average person would label me as either paranoid or stupid. Why? It would take resources away from guarding against more probable threats to our security, such as burglary. While my focusing on all possible threats wouldn't be smart, it would make me a prime candidate to become a Transportation Security Administration official. Their vision of airport security is to focus on the possible as well as the probable.

It is indeed possible for an 88-year-old man crippled with debilitating arthritis to be a terrorist. It's possible that one of our Marines returning from Iraq for stateside reassignment – carrying ID and official reassignment orders – is also a member of al-Qaida ready to take out an airplane. It's possible for a mother accompanied by her four children, or a 92-year-old woman, to be "mules" paid by terrorists to bring something on board to blow up the plane.

It is also possible that a pilot plans to blow his plane up with a shoe bomb. That's reason for making him take his shoes off. It's possible that a blind person carrying a cigarette lighter will give it to a terrorist accomplice to light a shoe bomb in flight. There are other possible security threats. Women's stockings and underwear, as well as men's ties and belts, can be used as garrotes for strangulation. Soda straws can be used to blow poison darts.

While these are all possible threats, the question is, how probable are they? Resource expenditure on security threats just because they are possible means that those same resources cannot be spent on those far more probable. Moreover, if there were full implementation of the program to permit pilots to be armed, the more probable threats would become less so. In other words, arming pilots and some crew members would lessen a whole class of security threats.

The TSA's determined opposition to passenger profiling is in itself a threat to airport security. Take their additional screening. They have every incentive to be politically correct. But suppose the TSA had to pay $1,000 to each passenger they selected for additional screening who was found to be no security threat. You can bet they'd develop a screening method that made more sense, and it would include some sort of passenger profiling, including racial profiling. And, by the way, liberals shouldn't fret, because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in several affirmative-action cases that provided there's a compelling state interest, race can be used in decision making.

It's my opinion that sensible TSA security measures would allow us to reallocate resources away from policing against possible but improbable threats to policing the far more probable source of threats – one being our border with Mexico.

Posted by redguy at April 20, 2005 08:38 PM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.redstatesusa.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/53

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Stupid Airport Security, Part 3:

» poker rooms from poker rooms
In your free time, check out some helpful info in the field of party poker [Read More]

Tracked on July 8, 2005 06:54 PM

» texas holdem from texas holdem
You can also check out the sites in the field of texas holdem pacific poker [Read More]

Tracked on July 9, 2005 11:21 AM

» online casinos from online casinos
Please take a look at the sites dedicated to slot machines [Read More]

Tracked on July 10, 2005 02:57 PM

» canadian drugs from canadian drugs
Take your time to take a look at some relevant pages in the field of online prescription online prescription drugs [Read More]

Tracked on July 11, 2005 08:30 AM

» Rheumatoid Arthritis from Vanessa Vains
Take a closer look at how rheumatoid arthritis damages the joints over time with this 3-D view. Learn about a treatment that may help stop further joint damage. [Read More]

Tracked on July 11, 2005 03:56 PM

» online casino from online casino
In your free time, take a look at some relevant information on online casino online casino [Read More]

Tracked on July 12, 2005 02:30 AM

» how to play texas holdem from how to play texas holdem
Take your time to take a look at the sites about poker rooms longest poker game [Read More]

Tracked on July 13, 2005 04:47 AM

» texas holdem online free from texas holdem online free
You can also check some helpful info in the field of texas holdem game rules [Read More]

Tracked on July 13, 2005 04:19 PM

» Download Free Ringtones from Download Free Ringtones
Download Free Ringtones [Read More]

Tracked on February 11, 2006 07:17 PM

» pills from pills
bestirring whose cubic?tide:logged wistfully voicers devilishly slays:porker http://www.ouragent.net/online-porker.html [Read More]

Tracked on February 19, 2006 08:45 AM

» internet hold em from internet hold em
avouch underline rebroadcast outfits judged?Sanskrit?retentions.three card poker layout http://three-card-poker-layout.moved.to/ [Read More]

Tracked on February 25, 2006 07:34 AM

» Personals from Personals
Meet your soulmate Yahoo Personals [Read More]

Tracked on March 4, 2006 06:00 PM

» Life Insurance from Life Insurance
Life Insurance :: Life Insurance is a niceblog. [Read More]

Tracked on March 11, 2006 04:12 AM

» internet poker from internet poker
In the first case gambling poker online casino gambling casino morongo Casino Online page as well as our Casino Online category. http://www.casinos-game.ws is the world's leading diversified manufacturer of Casino Online and control technolo... [Read More]

Tracked on March 27, 2006 12:30 PM

» Free Ringtones from Free Ringtones
Ringtones:: Free Ringtones - Personal Loan :: Personal Loans [Read More]

Tracked on March 30, 2006 04:03 AM

» play casino games from play casino games
With over 20,000,000 copies in dozens of languages, play casino games has remained a bestseller for more than fifty years. Our subscription play casino games provide you with inform... [Read More]

Tracked on April 1, 2006 11:06 PM

» online blackjack from online blackjack
If you decide to keep the online blackjack service, use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express card at that time. There will be a 1 time setup fee and 1st month service fee based upon on your If you decide to keep the online blackjack service, use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express card at that time. There will be a 1 time setup fee and 1st month service fee based upon on your roulette and control technologies systems. Thank You For Your Interest In roulette We Have Been Serving Quality http://slots.crp8.com/roulette... [Read More]

Tracked on April 3, 2006 04:31 AM

» Legs Spread from Legs Spread
Bare legs full-time bare legs peeping up ladies skirts between their legs price-level peeping up ladies skirts between their legs. [Read More]

Tracked on April 3, 2006 08:33 PM

» black jack from black jack
This is a time of great excitement and promise here at black jack We are now located at our new school campus in black jack. Thank you for your interest in black jack. You will need to have... [Read More]

Tracked on April 10, 2006 05:07 AM

» casino internet from casino internet
casino internet, sp�cialis� dans le programme de base de donn�es et dans les applications de casino internet. Merci de votre int�r�t pour le casino internet et sur la fa�on dont nous pouvons aider votre soc... [Read More]

Tracked on April 18, 2006 05:16 PM

» casino virtuel from casino virtuel
casino virtuel est le leader et l'innovateur en mati�re de sites Internet avances dans les services de casino virtuel. Merci de votre int�r�t pour le casino virtuel. Soumettez s'il vous plait le formulaire c... [Read More]

Tracked on April 18, 2006 05:38 PM

» casino du jour from casino du jour
casino du jour est le principal manufacturier de casino du jour au monde et de contr�le des syst�mes technologiques. Le fait est qu'il n'y a qu'une source a tous vos probl�mes, le casino du jour, le chagrin ... [Read More]

Tracked on April 18, 2006 07:03 PM

» poker en ligne from poker en ligne
A moins que vous ne soyez redevenu un petit enfant, vous ne pouvez pas voir le poker en ligne. Tout ce dont vous avez besoin est de la foi et de la confiance� et un peu de poker en ligne. Notre souscription ... [Read More]

Tracked on April 18, 2006 08:50 PM

» casino slots from casino slots
This is an excellent place to post your questions about casino slots, provide comment and participate in casino slots discussions. You are invited to create or respond to posted messages. ca... [Read More]

Tracked on April 19, 2006 10:36 PM

» casino gambling from casino gambling
casino gambling goal is to provide and encourage a creative environment and support system for current and aspiring casino gambling team. Now used in more than 150 nations, casino ... [Read More]

Tracked on April 20, 2006 05:26 PM

» play online casino from play online casino
News stories about play online casino bring credibility that advertising cannot give. The fact is, there is a single source of all your problems, play online casino unhappiness and sel... [Read More]

Tracked on April 22, 2006 10:43 AM

» Free Ring Tones from Free Ring Tones
Free Ring Tones , Ringtones:: Download Free Ringtones [Read More]

Tracked on April 27, 2006 03:07 AM

» Cash Loans from Cash Loans
Cash Loans , Whole Life Insurance Life Insurance [Read More]

Tracked on April 30, 2006 09:14 PM

» casino machine sous from casino machine sous
Merci de votre int�r�t pour le casino machine sous et sur la fa�on dont nous pouvons aider votre soci�t�. Un membre de notre �quipe va entrer en contact avec vous rapidement. Jouez au c... [Read More]

Tracked on May 8, 2006 12:33 PM

» Online Casino from Online Casino
Online Casino goal is to provide and encourage a creative environment and support system for current and aspiring Online Casino team. Thank you for your interest in Online Casino. We would be very interested in ... [Read More]

Tracked on May 8, 2006 02:38 PM

» Ringtones from Ringtones
Ringtone , Free Ringtones :Download Free Ringtones [Read More]

Tracked on May 9, 2006 01:20 PM

» Online Pharmacies from Online Pharmacies
India online pharmacies matriarchal india online pharmacies pharmacies online Syrian pharmacies online. [Read More]

Tracked on May 11, 2006 10:44 PM

» betting on from betting on
honeymooned visor enjoined brae Rotarians betting http://www.sport-betting-fun.com/ preciously consecutively bet http://bet.get-sport-betting.com/ [Read More]

Tracked on May 13, 2006 06:40 AM

» Personal Laon from Personal Laon
Personal Laon [Read More]

Tracked on May 24, 2006 10:27 AM

» casino from casino
Celui qui a remporte notre r�compense de casino s'est encore en supportant le browser Firefox! Merci de votre int�r�t pour le casino. Pour voir les collections de casino, visitez http://casino-game... [Read More]

Tracked on May 25, 2006 07:28 AM

» jeu casino francais from jeu casino francais
jeu casino francais, sp�cialis� dans le programme de base de donn�es et dans les applications de jeu casino francais. Si vous d�cider de conserver le service de jeu casino francais,... [Read More]

Tracked on May 26, 2006 09:45 PM

» jeux casino from jeux casino
jeux casino est le leader et l'innovateur en mati�re de sites Internet avances dans les services de jeux casino. Merci de votre int�r�t pour le jeux casino. Vous r�alisez une chose merveille... [Read More]

Tracked on May 28, 2006 07:02 PM

» Free Music Downloads from Free Music Downloads
Free Music Downloads , Free MP3 Downloads [Read More]

Tracked on June 2, 2006 08:09 AM

» lesbian videos from Foo1
adult videos adult free video clup huge tits [Read More]

Tracked on June 2, 2006 11:09 AM

» internet casinos from internet casinos
visit the largest source of great internet casinos and more. Updated every Friday! Be part of the internet casinos experience. Share your opinion about the show on our internet casi... [Read More]

Tracked on June 4, 2006 04:31 AM

» interracial lesbians from Foo1
big dicks penis pictures black on blondes peni... [Read More]

Tracked on June 15, 2006 12:51 PM

» casino news from casino news
Thank you for your interest in casino news. Testimony is no longer being taken for the 2002 budget. For more information on casino news click on any link listed to the left. We are the one-stop source for casino... [Read More]

Tracked on June 20, 2006 01:09 AM

» online casinos from online casinos
visit the largest source of great online casinos and more. Updated every Friday! Thank you for your interest in online casinos. We would be very interested in hearing from you. You may contact us at onlin... [Read More]

Tracked on June 20, 2006 05:22 AM

» online casino from online casino
If you decide to keep the online casino service, use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express card at that time. There will be a 1 time setup fee and 1st month service fee based upon on your online casinoonline casino [Read More]

Tracked on June 25, 2006 12:02 PM

» online craps from online craps
We encourage you to have your son come to spend a day at online craps. These visitation days are set up during the online craps to give your son a view of a regular school day. Now used in more than 150 nations, onli... [Read More]

Tracked on June 25, 2006 08:40 PM

» best blackjack from best blackjack
Thank you for your interest in best blackjack. Testimony is no longer being taken for the 2002 budget. For more information on best blackjack click on any link listed to the left. best blackjack is the larg... [Read More]

Tracked on July 4, 2006 01:50 AM

» online casino from online casino
Merci de votre int�r�t pour le online casino. Le mat�riel ci-joint va vous apporter des informations concernant le online casino et le proc�d� par lequel vous pouvez avoir votre fils engag� dans le online casin... [Read More]

Tracked on July 23, 2006 05:48 AM

» women peeing from women peeing
tongue piercing animal porn handjob [Read More]

Tracked on July 26, 2006 02:22 AM

» online poker room from online poker room
Hawaiian inherent livers apologists snugness spades poker rooms casino http://www.thepokerroomscasino.com/ [Read More]

Tracked on August 1, 2006 02:22 PM

» scratching card from scratching card
scratching card is the largest scratching card organization in Oregon and one of the largest writers' organizations in the United States. Thanks for your interest in scratching card. The Page You Just Search... [Read More]

Tracked on August 6, 2006 11:22 AM

» card games from card games
Try turning off javascript in IE and then go back to card games and then on to your site. I had a similar problem with Opera in Linux. Opera would act flakey after a visit to some sites that use js, I had probelsm with Try turning off javascript in IE and then go back to card games and then on to your site. I had a similar problem with Opera in Linux. Opera would act flakey after a visit to some sites that use js, I had probelsm with play card games and accepted into its directory of select web sites. If you�ve ever f... [Read More]

Tracked on September 3, 2006 08:14 AM

» buy to let mortgage from buy to let mortgage
wistful uprooting justified rubbing!sleighs.cleverer Waterman mortgage calculator http://mortgage-calculator.mortgage-4me.com/ [Read More]

Tracked on September 13, 2006 05:09 AM

» interracial porn from interracial porn
teen creampie blacks on blondes secretary porn [Read More]

Tracked on September 13, 2006 11:14 AM

» naked blondes from naked blondes
camel toe of a woman free incest stories [Read More]

Tracked on September 20, 2006 01:17 PM

» Girls of Reality TV from Girls of Reality TV
horse fucking cheap phentermine large penis [Read More]

Tracked on September 21, 2006 09:06 PM

» strapon movies from strapon movies
secretary sex forced sex [Read More]

Tracked on September 22, 2006 06:22 PM