Is anyone flying....?

Even though I agree with Dade that by and large going thru the airports in my own experience hasnt been overly intrusive or unpleasant, I do agree with Shaun and others that their is a lot of wasted motion, time, and energy targeting the wrong travelers like children and 80 year olds. Facts is the TSA is not an operation that is being run optimally. Sam Harris once again kills it with reason in this blog post:


http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/in-defense-of-profiling

Even though I agree with Dade that by and large going thru the airports in my own experience hasnt been overly intrusive or unpleasant, I do agree with Shaun and others that their is a lot of wasted motion, time, and energy targeting the wrong travelers like children and 80 year olds. Facts is the TSA is not an operation that is being run optimally. Sam Harris once again kills it with reason in this blog post:


http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/in-defense-of-profiling

Except that children, women and old people have been being used by our enemies for a long time. Al Qaeda has used many children for suicide attacks. Why should we believe that they won't try it again?

The TSA has some problems, that's certain. But...let's not pretend that there is no threat and that the people who want to cause us harm are not looking for new crazy ways to attack us.

What gets me about this thread is that nobody has offered any alternative to the current system. I think that Shaun suggested letting the airlines handle security but that's silly. What would they do differently? Why would they want the liability and responsibility? Why would I be treated better just because they work for corporate America rather than the US Government?

I've pointed out many times that our domestic security procedures are far less intrusive than many countries I've visited recently. You want to see what intrusive is? Travel internationally through India.

Al-Qaeda has used white-bred looking women and children flying domestically in the US as bomb carriers? Where are there examples of this having happened?

Al-Qaeda has used white-bred looking women and children flying domestically in the US as bomb carriers? Where are there examples of this having happened?

As soon as we relax the rules for "white-bred looking women and children flying domestically in the US", they will use them for attacks. Nobody thought of a shoe bomb until they tried that one. Nobody thought of using planes as weapons until they used them as weapons. here is always a first time, right?

Diabetic teen says TSA broke $10,000 insulin pump

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... orad_x.htm

Al-Qaeda has used white-bred looking women and children flying domestically in the US as bomb carriers? Where are there examples of this having happened?

As soon as we relax the rules for "white-bred looking women and children flying domestically in the US", they will use them for attacks. Nobody thought of a shoe bomb until they tried that one. Nobody thought of using planes as weapons until they used them as weapons. here is always a first time, right?

That's laughable and nonsensical. Harris is explicitly stating that the TSA should be concentrating most of their efforts on Muslim looking and dressed people and his point has merit. Wasting time and resources on a child from Kansas returning home from Disney world is just stupid. Most suicide bombers are male and Arab looking. They should be bearing the brunt of these searches along with nervous and suspicious looking people, not grandmas and toddlers.

That's laughable and nonsensical. Harris is explicitly stating that the TSA should be concentrating most of their efforts on Muslim looking and dressed people and his point has merit. Wasting time and resources on a child from Kansas returning home from Disney world is just stupid. Most suicide bombers are male and Arab looking.

Richard Reid is white and black Jamaican. The underwear bomber is Nigerian. The 9/11 hijackers all dressed like westerners.

That's laughable and nonsensical. Harris is explicitly stating that the TSA should be concentrating most of their efforts on Muslim looking and dressed people and his point has merit. Wasting time and resources on a child from Kansas returning home from Disney world is just stupid. Most suicide bombers are male and Arab looking.

Richard Reid is white and black Jamaican. The underwear bomber is Nigerian. The 9/11 hijackers all dressed like westerners.

Exactly. The idea that we can profile a certain type of person and ignore all others is what's laughable and nonsensical. It's even funnier that you think all Muslims look the same. You're probably unaware that there are plenty of white American Muslim children. Should they get a pass?

That's laughable and nonsensical. Harris is explicitly stating that the TSA should be concentrating most of their efforts on Muslim looking and dressed people and his point has merit. Wasting time and resources on a child from Kansas returning home from Disney world is just stupid. Most suicide bombers are male and Arab looking.

Richard Reid is white and black Jamaican. The underwear bomber is Nigerian. The 9/11 hijackers all dressed like westerners.

Lots of black muslims.... The 9-11 hi jackers were all saudis, hence all arab, who cares if they were dressed like westeners.... richard reid was a suspicious character... No one is saying that no Non-muslims should all get a pass what Harris is saying, and I agree with is that it is a waste of time targeting young children and grannies and than giving a pass to someone who might actually be carrying something. Of course there is going to be random searches of americans, I never suggested otherwise. Even Harris says that he should be searched well before an 80year with a walker and toddlers with blowpops. Profiling should be in full effect to say otherwise, like Dade is pretty much suggesting things stay the status quo, is nonsensical and laughable and its borderline indefensible.