Mywife and I have been watching the news since Tuesday evening from 5pm -11pm every night up til today. We just couln't watch anymore, we must take a break. I live in Upstate NY and have visited NYC on business and one of the hospitals that service the WTC is a client of mine.
I feel that airport security is a JOKE. Plain and simple. Not only do I worry about Barney Fife as the Air Marshall, but we don't even have any that competant working the sercurity at some airports.
What we really need is for the Federal Gov't to put set dollar amount tax, say $10 - $20 per flight, per passenger. This would pay for the added security. Make the FAA and/or FBI responsible for the security, NOT the airlines. Federal officers, working the security check-ins, officers in the sky. Make it a Federal crime, not a local one if there is a problem in airports.
During any major event, the news always finds the analyst who worked on proposals for the Federal Gov't about, terrorism, building codes, security at large. I saw one this week, where the analyst proposed tougher security at airports due to our risk for domestic terrorism. Congress's response was ". . . it would cost too much". I guess a $40 Billion price tag isn't so much now. I would gladly spend an hour at the airport for domestic flight checking in, IF, I knew I would arrive at my destination.
While we were watching the news this week, we saw a news report the day after we started limited flights. New tougher airport security was in place. It was?! Three members of a flight crew (United Airlines I think) at different intervals walked though security and then assembled. You know what they all showed that they got a Box Cutter, Cork Screw and Pocket Knife past the NEW TIGHT SECURITY. They were quickly detained and questioned.
My wife doesn't want me to fly for work, and fortunately I don't have to very often. But I tell you I am more likley to have more hops and layovers rather than take a direct flight anytime soon or at all.
One last item, why didn't we go after Osma Bin Laden this way three years ago after the Embassy Bombings in Africa? While there is no guarantee, maybe this could have been prevented.