Is airport security necessary? (Page 2)

I have serious doubt on both counts. More security for less money? I think we get one or the other. A private organization exists to make money for it's stakeholders. So either the money goes to to profits to be distributed, or it goes to providing the security. If the budgeted amount is less, then corners get cut. Maybe slowly at first, but sooner or later, without some kind of oversight, more and more so. Soon we are paying more for the "window dressing", and as more problems occur, or are perceived as risks, we pay even more.

Not everything should be privatized. Public/private partnership, maybe. 

 A private org that answered to the Marshalls Service or US Customs Service. A private firm that's accountable to the airport operations manager or the airlines won't work.

Not useless, but some things seem unnecessary.  If you go through a metal detector/wave scanner and your items go through an x-ray then taking off your shoes, belt,  jewelery and removing laptop and liquids seems like overkill.

Are you really trying to tell me that a private institution cannot be more efficient than the US government?  Government is the definition of waste.

I'd agree with that. You cannot have each airport setting their own standards.

Is airport security now days better than prior to 2001?  Absolutely.   Could it be better and more efficient?  No question about it.

Total privatization is not the answer, otherwise we
risk going back to the previous model where airlines were responsible for airport security and in turn theybid the task out to private security firms. The airline wanted to cut down cost by going with the lowest bid, then the private company would dumb down the process even more so they could make
some money.  Back in 2000 the startingsalary for a security screener at 14 of the nation’s 18 largest airport was $6.00 or less, mind you, the federal minimum back then was $5.15.  Do you want to entrust the last line of defense to people making the same money as a high school student working part timebagging groceries?  I think the answer is no.

The answer to me is somewhere between a public and private partnership, with the private component closely monitored by the air marshal side service and with clear stipulations that there will be serious repercussions up and down the management structure if corners are cut to maximize profit.

The system can be made a lot more efficient and cost effective, but we can’t forget that safety is the main reason.  I flight internationally for work on a weekly basis and I like to know that the best
tools to keep passengers safe are being employed.

i travel a lot and disagree with all of this.  their success rate??  the TSA has never detected or stopped a terrorist attack.  i haven't put my liquids in a baggie in maybe 2 years??  nobody has ever said a word about my lotions, hair products, makeup, toothpaste, etc.  i went through a mmwave machine recently and the metal from the hooks on my bra flagged on their detection.  SERIOUSLY?  every bra has metal hooks.  luckily i didn't need to prove it because the agent just waved her arm across my back and sent me on my way.  sure, i don't fit the profile so i probably get waved off (likely because i'm white, even if they supposedly don't profile), but the whole process is just a silly show.

I have mixed feelings. I think it's like locks on doors...they keep honest people honest and may deter a few.

I think I've talked about this before, but I took fuel injectors through in my check-in. I explained what I did and what they were...and like meh said, I think because I look "fine" I got through. (Although there may be statistics about female terrorists?!?!?)

Here are fuel injectors:

They may be one link but the last plane at 9/11 was taken down by passengers. The shoe bomber and underwear bomber the same.

Maybe if ALL the passengers are sheep, the "nuts with box cutters" win. But I think part of our changed mentality is that we no longer see hijackers as wanting to achieve their goals and go on their way. We see them as willing to take down the plane, and will therefore take action to stop them.

they have NEVER stopped any attack.  several have been stopped by intelligence operations and other passengers, but never by TSA. 

i know that it would be pretty simple to get whatever i wanted on a plane, as long as it fit in my suitcase.

i once had a steak knife in my bag that i forgot about and went through security twice with it.

That was a win for the hijackers...not the ultimate win they wanted, but just as big a win as the show bomber or underwear bomber was after......bad example, airline personell were killed with weapons brought on board..

The airlines are doing it to themselves perhaps.

If you couldn't bring anything ON the plane except for a purse or small bag/computer.  Then it would be faster.  But the fact they are charging so much to check in bags, everyone is packing everything they can in carry on.  So they have to probably search twice as much stuff there, rather than x-ray behind the scenes in the baggage process.  If that makes sense.

I would be very worried if we did away with the metal detectors and baggage xray, for sure.  That's been in place for as long as I remember. Anyone know when that started?

I do have a problem with the extra layers of inconvenience.   I have unintentionally made mistakes several times like leaving my liquids in my bag, leaving a metal corkscrew in my carry-on bag (MANY TIMES) undetected (how don't they see that???), etc.  Also, the 3 ounce rule is ridiculous.  Why are a 5 pr 75 year old's flip flops any more/less dangerous than MY flip flops?   Also airports sometimes in the US, and often in other countries, that have different rules entirely, yet we all continue on.   When I departed from Zurich last year not a single person looked at my passport to verify my appearance before getting on a plane to Paris.  Not one.   I know this is about TSA but it strikes me that security measures worldwide should be looked at and there are many issues.

In addition to these many imperfections, what about the fact that so many things could be weapons!    I have never garroted anyone, but there are a million action films that show me that garroting someone is just as easy as stabbing them with a small knife (i.e. box cutter).    In fact, I bet I could put a wooden handled small roped item in my carry-on suitcase and put it right through the xray machine.   Or, I could just use my shoelace, belt, necklace, etc.   Maybe I have  a jump rope?  And couldn't I cut someone with a number of things, say an innocuous looking piece of sharp jewelry (necklace, belt buckle)?

I suppose I'll be put on the TSA special list now...

Good point indeed.  More "stuff" equals slower processing time through security.

While this would undoubtedly slow down the process (or would it?), when I traveled internationally a few months ago, upon re-entering the US I was asked a series of questions that I'm assuming was a profiling/psychological test. Things like:

Why did you travel to that country, business, pleasure, etc.?
How long was your stay, where did you stay?
Did you know anyone in that country prior to traveling there?
Why are you traveling alone? 
Did you meet anyone while you were there?

In addition to the customs questions about bringing back food and money and what not.

I was still singled out for additional questioning and screening/pawing through all of my bags so maybe it wasn't that effective. But I like to think it is.
 

That's standard for customs questions.  You were probably looked at more suspiciously for traveling alone (i.e. a possible courier).   In many countries they will then select a sampling of folks for the extra search.  I think it's in Mexico that they have you hit a button and get either a red (will be searched) or green light (exit).   They are more geared towards making sure you're not trying to smuggle something into the country and this would happen if you were in a car, on foot, or at the airport.   I was hard-core stared at and checked when entering China on a ferry, for instance.  I had to make my face look just like in my passport picture (smile a certain way, take my glasses off). 

No one cares when you are leaving a county.

Yeah, i thought it was hilarious in Mexico - leaving the Cancun airport, they have a randomized selection where you have to press a button which will let you go through or be subject to baggage check.  I think everyone is thinking 'don't let the red light come up' - i know I was! 

I'll probably regret this.. but I am going to Mexico next week and will get my chance again.   So far only green lights!  I am sure they would be unimpressed with what I am packing.

Yep but my point was maybe they should start asking those domestically..? I don't know their success rate in foiling criminal activity, I wonder what it is?