Here's an article that will be of great interest to anyone who flies on the airlines.  The author, an aviation correspondent for the Conde Nast Traveler magazine, took time off from her job to hire on as an airport screener with the Transportation Security Administration. She did this in order to gain insight into the effectiveness of the TSA programs that are supposed to ensure airport security.  She wanted to investigate reports that despite a five-year, $20 billion overhaul of the passenger screening system, checkpoint personnel are failing at the job.  Her findings make scary reading for anyone who gets onto an airliner and wonders if any suicide bombers have also made it on board.  Click the following link to CNT magazine for her report (it appeared in the Mar 2007 issue).

http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=10624&print=true

"The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either." - Benjamin Franklin

There are both positives and negatives to living in a "free" society. But to live in a controlled society, whether a fascist state, a theocracy, etc... No thanks, I'll take my chances here.

While going through the security line at Phoenix airport last month, I had to give up my money clip. It had a tiny pair of scissors attached. Nevermind that I'm the most untrained fighter in the world, that a five-year-old could disarm me. But a ceramic pistol could easily get through.

The neocons have pushed a level of security into airports which has not made flying safer, just caused more expenses on taxpayers... and given poorly trained security risks keys to our luggage and permission to steal from us.

What a proud, strong, free country we are!