Slashdot Mirror
Can Imaging Technologies Save Us From Terrorists?
itwbennett writes "In the aftermath of the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack, full body scanning technologies such as millimeter wave and backscatter are regaining popularity, writes blogger Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols in a recent post. But, he asks, do they really work? The TSA seems to think so. It has just issued a contract to purchase more millimeter wave scanners from L3 Communications. Michael Chertoff, the former homeland security secretary, told the New York Times that if these scanners had been in place, they would have caught the would-be bomber. Ben Wallace, the Conservative Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, disagrees, saying that the technologies can't detect the kind of low-density explosive that the would-be terrorist tried to use on December 25th."
What's really hurting the Airlines is that they don't charge enough for flights.
This security theater crap will only put them in a position to get more money from the feds.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
people are concerned about the issue of terrorism on airlines, so there's money and effort pushed towards this problem. it doesn't mean the effort or the technology is effective, its more like a groping in the dark to get something done, and more importantly, the perception that people are trying to solve the problem, regardless of how intractable the problem is
now a lot of people on slashdot might gripe and groan about lack of effectiveness, but you have to think about this from a political perspective: effectiveness is less important than perception that you are trying to be effective
that is, your average citizen, concerned about terrorism on airplanes, doesn't want to see zero screening and the pat answer "well, we have no effective technology to screen for this, so take your chances". then they get angry. they want to see barking dogs, stern men in uniform with stun guns, and people passing through electronic sniffing doodads. even if its not going to prevent something like the crotchbomber
actually preventing bombings isn't an issue, perception of an effort to try to prevent such bombings is the issue
so all of the inevitable griping on slashdot about technological ineffectiveness is completely besides the point. you are 100% correct. but it doesn't mean we won't get millions spent on ineffective technology
peace of mind, though resting on a flimsy foundation, is better than no peace of mind at all
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
You kinda remind me of Bono's argument that the MPAA should look at China for solutions to copyright infringement. You seem to be ignorant of how Arab Palestinians are treated in Israel.
Res publica non dominetur