Enough is enough. When the TSA started its much more intrusive (sexually abusive, if you will) pat downs they finally crossed the line. Unfortunately I have family members who have endured different forms of sexual abuse (multiple generations). My wife read an article (I’m sorry that I don’t have the reference) that claimed the back-scatter X-Ray images can tell whether a man is circumcised or not. Maybe I’m naive but I didn’t know that was germain to the problem.

Ilana your advice to Myron was good. These enhanced search techniques must be stopped and replaced with the more intelligent, less intrusive, more effective, and probably much lower cost method the Israelis use.

I have been through their system several times and there were times when I had to answer a lot of questions but it was reasonable and understandable. At the time I had much more dark hair, darker skin (summer tan), and a beard. I have also been told I have intense eyes. Ok, I looked middle eastern.

This can not be overstated the Israelis look for terrorists not potential instruments of terror. At one point I was asked by an Israeli TSA equivalent if I had any knives or weapons. I said no but, that I did have a small Swiss Army Knife which I produced. Because he had interviewed me and had a sense of who I was he smiled at my small knife and let me continue through the process.

I could tell by the answers that I gave to the questions they asked me that they had a protocol to their questioning. Certain answers led to more questions. They are not only trying to stop terrorists but, they are trying to keep people from “lifting” their military technology. It is clearly a more complete approach to multiple potential problems.

This has nothing to do with “security” and everything to do with establishing in the public mind that the state is Master. This is the political establishment’s message to American men; that our bodies and the bodies of our wives, daughters, and granddaughters are properties of the State, to grope and fondle as our Masters see fit. They can go straight to blazing Hell and I will be only too happy to help them arrive at that destination of any of them dare to molest members of my family.

Those without humps/lumps/metal/tubes inside them probably just answer normal routine questions – my name is John Smith and I am going to Chicago to visit my mom in Evanston… – like they might ask in Israel.

The FAA (before TSA) has been looking into this technology since 1996 (e.g. long before Mohammed Atta and the unsuccessful shoe/bottle/underwear Moslems). It was supposed to be simple for the public to walk through without lines, pen/coin removals, etc. It was supposed to be a voluntary ALTERNATIVE to the remove shoes/coins/yogurt/pens idiocy for those who wish to pass through effortlessly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CX9Agzeh-c

and, with image blurring, it could have just highlighted hidden weapons:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/21/AR2010112104456.html

However, security and technology in the hands of idiots can only be as good as the idiots. And, of course, the constitution refers to REASONABLE searches which means exercising REASON as the Israelis do.

As for handicapped or elderly or artificial-breasts/limbs or children, they could always be pre-screened and pre-approved Israeli fashion without these horrors – but that only works if the system is not manned by goonish brainless automatons.

[See comment on post.]

FJB

I stopped flying altogether more than 3 months ago, a decision that caused me to log more than 6,000 miles business miles by car through 13 states and Canada in one 20-day period in August and September.

For me, the decision not to fly was a revolutionary act. I did not spend five years under arms in America’s service to see what was once “the land of the free and the home of the brave” become a perverted caricature of herself.

Make no mistake. This has nothing to do with “security” and everything to do with establishing in the public mind that the state is Master. This is the political establishment’s message to American men that our bodies and the bodies of our wives, daughters, and granddaughters are properties of the State, to grope and fondle as our Masters see fit. They can go straight to blazing Hell and I will be only to happy to help them arrive at that destination of any of them dare to molest members of my family.

Of course, when I saw you and Sean, I expressed my fear of TSA abuse.

Barack Obama is the black Dukakis – absolutely tone deaf to the concerns of Americans. But sadly, too many Americans have been used to the tyranny and go along with the specious logic of TSA groping, yogurt confiscating, shoe sniffing idiots. Michelle – she doesn’t hob nob with the common folk – so she can be like Marie Antoinette!

But then we do have the multiudinous successes of the TSA – not a single airplane has been taken over by small children with leg braces since 9/11!!!