A Calculated Farce

The New York Times

Airplane Security Debated Anew After Latest Bombing Plot

By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT and RON NIXON

Published: May 10, 2012

WASHINGTON — The latest attempt by Al Qaeda to make an underwear bomb designed to be detonated on a plane headed to the United States has set off a fierce debate among security officials in Washington and their critics in Congress about whether the current measures to protect airliners would have detected the bomb . . .

Peter’s Comment

Whether or not current security measures would have detected the bomb is a mere sideshow to a much wider issue.

Washington, as the self-appointed World policeman, seems unable to understand that no amount of security can buy safety while they meddle in the affairs of other sovereign nations and impose their will on the World as though they have a God-given right.

And why the emphasis on airline travel? Air travel has long been the safest form of transportation ever devised and for each airliner destroyed by terrorists in a given period there will thousands killed by car, bus or truck bombs. Does that fact leave a clue? Would it be feasible to have airline type security measures in place at every bus and truck depot, at every bus stop and truck stop, every shop, office and factory?

The answer to that must be very obvious. There is no limit to the opportunities for determined terrorists. But at least with the current policy it looks as though Washington is trying to do something about the problem, short of bankrupting the country. To a large part of the World, America’s solution is a calculated farce.

It will take generations to repair the damage to America’s reputation but a start must be made now. Bring the military home as fast as is decently possible and keep them home unless and only when requested by the United Nations.

                                 At the controls of a Boeing 737 flight simulator