The Sensible Body Scan Alternative

An anonymous reader sends in a CNN article that looks at airport security from more reasonable point of view, suggesting that looking for every last micro-gram of potentially explosive material is a waste of time, since very small quantities of explosives are unlikely to significantly damage a plane. The author also recommends incorporating parts of the Israeli method of securing airplanes — look for the bomber, not the tools. Quoting: "Clearly everything should be done to prevent explosives getting on board an aircraft in quantities sufficient to cause structural failure and bring the plane down. But is it worth chasing lesser quantities that would result in zero or minimal damage? The enhanced pat-down that some find so offensive is designed to search for these small amounts. It often ends with a swab being taken to test for explosive residues. Technology does have a role to play, but imaging is not the solution. Operator fatigue sets in after short periods of time staring at computer images. That's why there are reports that contraband items have been smuggled through X-ray units used to scan carry-on bags. The aim should be to detect high explosive in quantities that are sufficient to cause significant damage. We don't need a machine that takes pictures of the human body. It makes more sense to develop a detector that clearly discriminates between high explosives and human tissue or water."

Comments

Israel has an actual existential threat

[BadAnalogyGuy]

America has no existential threat. Talking about "an alternative" is a waste of time and counter productive.

The alternative should be to dismantle the TSA, put every single person who works for it on trial for treason, and have them executed.

This particular agency has taken it upon itself to turn America into a police state where freedom of speech, assembly, and movement no longer exists. They do it under the guise of security, but it is unnecessary (and frankly incompetent) security. They use techniques which coerce citizens to give in to "less intrusive" measures by means of fear and intimidation. It's a damned shame, and Obama ought to be impeached for supporting this.

No, that fails as well.

[khasim]

as you recall both the shoe bomber and captain underpants were young Arab men, as were all the 9/11 terrorists.

And yet Timmy McVeigh and the UniBomber weren't Arab.

Easily detected under a simple profiling rule - check all young Arab men.

Nice work. You should apply for a job with the TSA because you are operating under the same mental limitation as they are.

Stop trying to defend against the LAST attack.

If you check all Arab men, then the guy will just get his girlfriend to carry the bomb through security.

Here's a history lesson for you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindawi_affair
Seems like your approach has already been gamed by the terrorists. Over 20 years ago.

Re:No, that fails as well.

[X0563511]

Last I checked, Timmy McVeigh and the UniBomber didn't (try to) blow themselves up for some ideological or religious calling.

There's a teensy tiny difference between... It may be small, but it is very important.