-
Even the Europeans Rethink the Welfare State
April 21, 2013 | 4 comments
-
ObamaCare for Everyone Except Obama’s Appointees
March 8, 2013 | 3 comments
-
The Sensitive Saudis: They Want Democracy for Everyone Else
March 5, 2013 | 3 comments
-
Remember, There Is No Spending Problem!
February 26, 2013 | 1 comment
-
Another Useful Reminder that Communism was Loathsome
February 24, 2013 | 16 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Another botched terrorist attack on a plane, another silly TSA rule. Apparently airline passengers are being told to stay in their seats for the final hour of flights and not to have anything in their laps.
Passengers getting off flights from overseas reported being told that they couldn’t get out of their seat for the last hour of their flight. Air Canada also said that during the last hour passengers won’t be allowed access to carry-on baggage or to have any items on their laps.
Uh, are we to believe that terrorists will cease and desist if they don’t think they can down a plane in its final hour of flight? Al-Qaeda only counts a terrorist attack as successful if it occurs near the plane’s final destination? Bring the plane down at 75 minutes out and you don’t get your 72 virgins?
Some inconvenience is inevitable in trying to protect flights from terrorists. But inconvenience should not become a substitute for vigilance. Yet again, the TSA seems to think it is more important to appear to be doing something than to be doing something useful.
View all comments (76) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/12/26/tsa-inconvenience-in-place-of
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
The Spectacle Blog
Democrat Dan Maffei Blames Budget Cuts for Girl’s Rape, Mother’s Murder
Robert Stacy McCain | 6.18.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Pingback| 12.26.09 @ 6:52PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : TSA: Inconvenience in P links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Paul| 12.26.09 @ 7:59PM
Almost all of the TSA's child-like security procedures are massive impositions on the innocent travelling public while being virtually useless against determined terrorists.
Oldefarte| 12.27.09 @ 12:53PM
What an 'ignorant comment', you stupid jerk!!!!
L. Ross| 12.28.09 @ 12:01PM
Oldefarte!
Watch the hostility, dude. You are harshing my mellow.
Seriously, I do agree with Paul on this one. As the terrorists have continued to demonstrate, human creativity and ingenuity are boundless. As long as you are trying to prevent the last attack, they will be plotting the next attack, and all your efforts are for naught.
Ceramic knives, or for that matter, shards of glass taped to a tongue depressor are deadly weapons that can't be caught by x-ray machines. Beyond just hiding things in your clothes, there are body cavities (you know where I mean) that can hold surprisingly large objects. I don't want to go into further details, but I used to work in the airline industry, and I know lots of ways to beat those machines.
On the other hand, you were probably being sarcastic. I hope so.
Jim O'Brien| 12.26.09 @ 9:32PM
The alleged father of a Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane on Christmas Day reportedly warned the U.S. about his son's fanatical religious views and activities, the New York Post reported.
Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, believed to be the suspected terrorist's father, told a Nigerian news outlet that six months ago he alerted the U.S. Embassy to his son's fanatical religious views, the Post reported.
He allegedly told Nigerian newspaper This Day that he had informed both the U.S. Embassy and the Nigerian security services of his 23-year-old son Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's activities, the Post reported.
The U.S. government did create a file on Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, the intelligence community's main repository of information on known and suspected international terrorists, in November 2009, Reuters reported.
He was not put on the no-fly list because authorities couldn't find enough negative information on him, a U.S. administration official said Saturday, according to Reuters.
-----------------------------
The Obama administration is too busy bringing terrorists to the U.S. for trial, granting the terrorists legal rights as if they were U.S. citizens, to be bothered keeping track of terrorist suspects who are capable of creating another 9/11, or multiple 9/11's. Obama and Holder have their heads up their asses.
Brian G | 12.26.09 @ 11:18PM
If you were captured would you want to be treated fairly by the rule of law? It is dishonorable to keep a person "off site" just to subvert the very laws of the captors' country.
Marc| 12.27.09 @ 1:04AM
Terrorists who were captured on the field of battle, who weren't wearing military uniforms, and who are using and murdering civilians as part of their strategy not only don't deserve Miranda rights and lawyers on US soil, they don't deserver Geneva Conventions protections - who's primary purpose is to protect civilians, not terrorists. Obama's an idiot.
Jim O'Brien| 12.27.09 @ 7:29AM
Right. And the 9/11 terrorists attacked and destroyed part of the Pentagon. They are the same as WW II Japanese pilots bombing Pearl Harbor. They should be executed Yesterday.
Tondaleo| 12.27.09 @ 2:33PM
Terrorists are only "entitled to" a cigarette, a blindfold and a bullet.
Faffnir| 12.28.09 @ 12:34PM
Why waste valuable time on cigarettes and blindfolds? Allah knows, the supply of virgins IS limited...
Franklin| 12.26.09 @ 11:16PM
All citizens of foreign governments who hate us should have their own plane. If it inconveniences them, it’s their fault.
At least the citizens of the USA would not have to suffer these dry runs, failed attempts or successful missions.
tonynoboloney| 12.26.09 @ 11:44PM
Perhaps seperate airlines are not completely necessary (advisable as that may be). We could at least spend a great deal more time in screening Muslim passengers, to include strip searches . If they do not cooperate with easy access clothing and baggage just make sure they start missing flights. Two hour delays at all airports should be normal procedure for them all.
Marc Jeric| 12.27.09 @ 6:48AM
I would apportion the guilt for terrorist acts as follows:
a) 50% to the terrorist;
b) 50% to our political and intellectual ruling class with their political correctness and multiculturalism - you see "no profiling" rule.
martin j smith| 12.27.09 @ 8:16AM
Marc Jeric: I agree in general with what are saying as the factors contributing to terroris. During the clinton and gwb adminstrations --which continued Clinton's policies till 9/11--there was a tendency to ignore or overlook what they would descriube as minor incidents. Also the consideration of terrorism as police work as opposed to military operations. Until a president takes the lead to declare again the War on Terrorism, there will sadly,be no change in policies. And, along with this confronting Muslim community leaders in this country of their own positions on terrorism,there will be no change. And as long we have those in the media fail to be truthfull with the American people, we will have no change. That is the sad truth
SoCon| 12.27.09 @ 9:27PM
The only hatred on this website is what nasty liberal trolls like Francis spew.
Francis is a typical fascist democrat who promises 'transparency' to the people of this country and then proceeds to lie, cheat and steal behind closed doors in order to pass his vile social policies.
Francis--like all democrats--is a filthy fraud.
We have nothing in common with this POS.
Francis| 12.27.09 @ 8:33AM
Want to know true terrorism? Look around you; in your newspapers, in these comments, at your spouse and kids, at the fear and bigoted hatred in your heart. The terrorists have already won - America is beat, the freedom and rights we sought to protect have been mutilated out of fear and ignorance. Mission accomplished.
bluecollarbytes| 12.27.09 @ 9:50AM
Speak for your own heart. If America was beat, why is there a growing living opposition to ObamaWorld? Ooops...there's that "hate".
martin j smith| 12.27.09 @ 10:23AM
Francis: You speak for yourself--only--too bad you see it that way. There are other views.
Margie| 12.27.09 @ 11:31AM
Perhaps you ought to go to Afghanistan and be an embed with our troops for a bit. Maybe that would change your mind as to who the terrorists are.
But then again, if seeing 9/11 unfold before your very eyes on t.v. didn't do it, nothing will.
Francis| 12.27.09 @ 12:02PM
Margie, terrorism is defined by the effect it has on people, not by the acts themselves. Afghans are fighting a civil war, not a war of terror. The war of terror is at home, at your doorstep, in the fear, doubt, and uncertainty you feel every day, when the government tells you that it is only a bit longer, that the war is nearly won, that the rights taken from you will be returned soon. Terror is the ability to shape and control people through fear; that's what the TSA, the media, and your government accomplishes, no terrorist does that. 9/11 was an opportunity for your government to take control of your life through fear, and this 'attempted terrorist attack' is no different. Think about what has affected you most these past years? Has it been terrorists, or has it been the policies, decisions, the fear-mongering, the terror-inducing headlines, the paranoia and anxiety of imminent attack? Don't let yourself be controlled by fear and emotions: think for yourself, and examine the facts.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.27.09 @ 12:35PM
Hey Francis
We are not terrorized...just pissed off.
True, too many Americans voted in a closet communist. OOPs on them.
We shall "take care of business" soon enough.
Just sit back and enjoy the show from whatever nanny state you represent.
Occam's Tool| 12.27.09 @ 10:49PM
I was scared on 9/11, but it was replaced by a burning anger. Political Islam has been at war with the West for over a Millenium, and they attack us over and over, never stopping. We (the West) were much stronger for a while---1700s through late 20th Century, but now the demographics are changing, and our leaders are spineless worms, except for Netanyahu. But that was also true of pre-WWII Europe except for Churchill. But things will change, and I hope for the better.
I always look forward to your comments, Ken. I hope your holidays were happy so far, and have a wonderful New Year.
SporkLift Driver| 12.27.09 @ 1:10PM
Francis
Did you feel fear on 9-11? Since 9-11? Do you even know anybody who did?
From TSA to Patriot Act to color coded threat levels to telling us that military action in Iraq and Afghanistan is sufficient to deal with Islamic extremism the government's message has been don't worry, don't think about it, let us deal with it, go back to sleep.
Meanwhile the ideology that inspires so many acts of violence remains largely unchallenged. I don't want people to be afraid, just aware.
Margie| 12.27.09 @ 2:25PM
I don't know, Francis.. I don't live in fear. I realize we live in a dangerous world though. But the difference between us is that I don't see speaking the truth as mean or hateful or bigoted. I see it as caring. How can a person be living in reality if they can't even bear to hear the truth? How can you say the enemy and terrorists are those of us who tell it like it is?
"9/11 was "your" government's opportunity to take control of our lives thru fear.." guess you're not from around here? But anyway that's truly conspiratorial talk, and reflects true paranoia on your part. I think it'd be a good idea if you took some of your own advice. in yr. last sentence.
~All the best.
Francis| 12.27.09 @ 7:15PM
Margie, I'm trying to explain that terrorism operates under the assumption that the people who are terrorized will react emotionally, irrationally, violently, and with hate. Americans, like some of the above commenters, hate Muslims - they hate Islam as a religion, and they dream of violence, torture, and death for people they don't know anything about, and who have never attacked them. Afghanistan never went to war with us, the militia fighting our army never went to war with us: we went to war with them, we aggressed them. When an abortion activist bombs a clinic, do we blame Iowa, where he came from? Do we invade it, rape its inhabitants of their power, voice, freedom, take over their country, and kill their children? No, we arrest the guy that did it.
Americans are acting out of fear, cowardice, and blind hate. None of our actions have made us safer, prevented new terror, or saved anyone's life. We've brought death to tens of thousands of civilians, we've renewed the world's hatred of us from Africa and into Western Europe - we've effectively made enemies with the world. Do you feel safe yet, Margie? Does the TSA officer squeezing your thighs and rifling through your underpants make you feel safer? This is the world we've created for ourselves, by our own doing, and we're responsible for the terror we self-inflict.
Margie| 12.27.09 @ 8:24PM
Francis,
What you seem to be "trying to explain" is the typical Leftist dogma of America is the big bad wolf and it's all our fault terrorists want us dead.
What a lie!
I bet you think Israel should not be allowed to fight for herself either, do you?
Come on Francis, give us a break.
Francis| 12.27.09 @ 10:52PM
Margie, thanks for your reply. On this ending note, I greatly hope that your kind and the rest of your paranoid, ignorant Cold War generation die as fast as they can, so that the world can move forward and make progress, rather than destroy itself through idiocy and lack of education.
FRANCIS THE CONCERN TROLL| 12.28.09 @ 12:43AM
That's okay, Francis, your heartless "DEATH PANELS" will kill off the elderly and infirm soon enough--you liberal monsters will make sure of it.
Now that you've made sure your evil social policies have slaughtered more than 50 million innocent babies the last 36 years, what's a few more hundred million, right?
Scratch the surface of a liberal and the fetid stench of hatred and cruelty bursts forth.
There's a special place in the fiery pits of hell for you, DemoNazi varmint.
Francis| 12.28.09 @ 6:25AM
You know that the death panels are fear-mongering propaganda designed to scare you, don't you, or did that lobotomy make you unable to read a decent newspaper? Myself and my wife are going to abort twice as many babies as we originally planned, thanks to that comment, and if you reply, we'll abort thrice as many. Keep it in mind, that your actions are responsible for the deaths of babies. I love how having an open discussion about how best to prevent terrorism opened up your abortion and Obama glands - you people are classically conditioned. You know the nazism is much more in line with conservatism, don't you? Strict social policy control, racism, nationalism, militarism, and totalitarian 'security measures'. The nazis embodied the right-wing, so stand proud, ConservoNazi.
FRANCIS THE CONCERN TROLL| 12.28.09 @ 5:17PM
Everything you spout is a canard.
Nazism: "German National SOCIALISM." Ring a bell, nasty fascist clown? The violent fascist liberal thugs in ACORN and the SEIU are your racist Brownshirts: There's video proof of SEIU goons beating a black Conservative. Nice try, though, moron.
Strict social policy control? You mean your 'transparent', behind closed doors, corrupt, lying and cheating fascist democrat attempt to force socialized health care down our throats? That social policy control? The American people detest you losers and your loser government over-reaching with 60% AGAINST your ObamaCare abomination.
"Militarism?" That's rich; considering Obama's ramped up 'predator drone' war on innocent civilians in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hypocrite.
"Death Panel" is certainly true, it's the care rationing board included in ObamaCare that the Senate protects by stipulating that only a super-majority can over-ride its decisions.
You need to get out of your moronic fascist liberal echo chamber and read something besides liberal talking points; like most liberals you have your head firmly planted up your rear end.
But I'm sure you're very comfortable bending over and grabbing your ankles--it's what you idiots and perverts on the Left do best.
Nobama| 12.28.09 @ 6:12PM
Your wife? You mean Bruce?
Abort away, moron; that way you liberal pieces of human excrement will become extinct. The world would be such a better place that way. We can only dream.
Stupid libtard.
Nobama| 12.27.09 @ 9:15PM
Francis is a liberal CONCERN TROLL, quite a perverted one at that.
Robert Clay| 12.27.09 @ 9:43AM
The American public needs to make a choice on its security:
Fast
Effective
Inexpensive
Choose any two; you will not get the third.
Those of you who whine about the inconvenience of security; try Israeli or Syrian security one time. Your whining is hamstringing the very security you depend on.
Those of you who whine about the ineffectiveness of TSA security; tell the inconvenience whiners to shut up.
Those of you who whine about the invasion of your privacy; tell yourself to shut up. Do you honestly think that officer has enough time to care about your underwear choice? Would you rather have your precious privacy invaded by an officer at the airport or by your plane hitting the ground at 400 mph?
*FacePalm*
Brooke| 12.28.09 @ 12:51AM
No one is whining about their privacy being invaded, moron. It would just be nice if the imbeciles elected to protect us did their jobs.
Try reading the posts for a change.
Pingback| 12.27.09 @ 10:26AM
Team Obama: Heroism to Be Outlawed Because of Airline Passengers Stopping Muslim Ter links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.27.09 @ 10:27AM
Christmas Miracle: Attempted Terrorist Attack on Plane Headed for Detroit Prevented links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.27.09 @ 11:26AM
Fix The System, Don’t Punish The Passengers @ Coach Class links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Start Profiling, Idiots!| 12.27.09 @ 12:42PM
Old Texican here.
American Thinker has a good article today.
We are NOT dealing with political correctness here.
We are dealing with treason on the part of our elected officials.
Dean| 12.27.09 @ 3:17PM
I can't believe all the concern on this issue. Janet Napolitano has already allayed any concerns we might have when she told CNN this morning, "Right now we have no indication that it is part of anything larger."
We should all have confidence in our government, particularly our Homeland Security secretary, to stop these "man-caused disasterists." Because, we all know this al-Qaida group is not threatening to the US.
SoCon| 12.27.09 @ 9:11PM
I agree, Dean, and if you're white, pro-life, pro-gun and a vet--you're the terrorist! Didn't you know?
Oldefarte| 12.28.09 @ 3:51AM
That says it all, SoCon!
coach sneaker | 12.28.09 @ 4:06AM
The best we American people can do currently is to try to keep this damn disguised Global Empire from mucking you up.
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 4:32AM
Obama’s on Vacation, So Iranian Civilian Deaths & Terrorist Airplane Attacks Will Ju links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
JP| 12.28.09 @ 9:22AM
"We are NOT dealing with political correctness here.
We are dealing with treason on the part of our elected officials"
Old Texan,
It's called Dhimmitude. Look at at Ft Hood, the TSA, the Beltwat, our schools, and the MSM. Our leaders are simply scared sh#tless.
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 11:00AM
Abdulmutallab Says More al Qaeda to Come, Obama Enjoying Beaches of Hawaii (video) « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Bob Miller| 12.28.09 @ 12:18PM
Muslim terrorists have the next best thing to invulnerability; they have our clueless Executive Branch, supported by an equally clueless Congressional majority, supported in turn by an increasingly clueless Judiciary.
Bob Miller| 12.28.09 @ 12:20PM
Lest someone take me to task, I mentioned Muslim terrorists because nobody has seen any other kind of terrorist lately.
Francis| 12.28.09 @ 2:01PM
Absolutely ignorant and absolutely ridiculous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....d_violence Here's a task for you: go back to high school, stop reading toilet mags like American Spectator, and learn more about your own country's hate and violence before blaming Muslims.
JP| 12.28.09 @ 2:24PM
And here's a task for you, Francis: Sober up! Didn't your mom tell you that drinking copious quarts of Night Train is bad for you?
FRANCIS THE CONCERN TROLL| 12.28.09 @ 5:24PM
JP, Francis the mule can't help himself--he's gotta drink all that Night Train so he can continue goose-stepping in circles in his step-mom's basement. He got new jack-boots for Christmas (Xmas for the godless moron).
Soulless liberal can't catch a clue. LOSER, loser, loser.
Francis| 12.28.09 @ 5:48PM
Not intelligent enough to repute the comment of a highschooler, and instead resort to insults? Wow, you guys are classy AND articulate.
FRANCIS THE CONCERN TROLL| 12.28.09 @ 6:15PM
Sieg Heil, Francis! Spit shining your jack boots again?
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 1:13PM
Napolitano Turns 180 Degrees, Admits DHS System “Failed Miserably” in Preventing Jih links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.28.09 @ 4:25PM
Iran erupting… « Time for Thorns links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
martin j smith| 12.29.09 @ 8:00AM
The only to really protect the American people is to profiler in terms of ethnicity,politics and behavior.
By ethniicty: even a caveman can figure out that there is a WAR ON ISLAMIC TERROR-not a police action
That there is specific mindset that is totally responsible for the Terrorist attacks
That there is a specific mindset of those who are quick to protect the rights ( so called of terrists )
And, a certain type of behavior that indicates suspicious behavior.
All of these matters need to be twken into acco8unt first and primarily--everythings is fluff and could even be disastrous in miussing signs of danger and in the long run destroying our economy as well.
So: profile
Pingback| 12.29.09 @ 10:59AM
Ten of the best vintage shops in Brussels | Accessories Beauty Wisdom links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.29.09 @ 11:37AM
Philadelphia Bicycle News: Will Philly Live Be Accessible to … | Bicycling Leisure Kn links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 11:07AM
Say Cheese! Team Obama’s Answer to War on Terror Is Full-Body Scanners at Airports « links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.30.09 @ 11:22AM
Proactive Helplessness | Lexington Universal Circuit links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 12.31.09 @ 12:53PM
Obama’s Airport X-Ray Nude Scanners can not detect vagina bombs or anus bombs « Votin links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.1.10 @ 4:43PM
War on Terrorism Resurrected: Obama Still Naive on Terrorism, 79% of Americans Belie links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.2.10 @ 11:21AM
Al Qaeda tampon bombs and sanitary napkin bombs and Obama’s PC costs in American Live links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
racking | 1.4.10 @ 11:20PM
http://www.racking-shelving.com
http://www.cold-store-equipment.com
as a whole contractor for cold store equipment, design, manufacturing, installation.
professional racking & shelving manufacturer, pallet racking, drive in racking,
cantilever racking, longspan shelving, dexion racking,
uyliuwh | 3.9.10 @ 10:08PM
your arctical is so amazing,keep on it!
gre84h8t4 | 3.9.10 @ 10:08PM
I'm only regretting that I didn't buy one earlier.
bill | 3.24.10 @ 4:22AM
professional racking & shelving manufacturer, pallet racking, drive in racking
Trackback| 4.20.10 @ 4:34PM
Mail Order Bride, on Mail Order Bride, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
e-ticaret | 6.2.11 @ 8:46AM
An excellent site for a long time I am following the site almost every day, but I added your site or landing pages get into the commonly used rate slowed down in recent days I wonder if they have a problem with my computer is also unclear to me. Nevertheless, this site would like to thank those who contributed.