Me: So my first question is, should the TSA’s only priority be preventing any terrorist attacks, or should it pay more attention to what effect it is having on Americans’ morale? Pistole: Well, we feel that flying is an exception to normal rules. What you have is essentially a giant flying bomb with people trapped aboard it, and as we saw in 9/11 this bomb can be used to devast— Me: Right, planes are huge bombs – and, as Bruce Schneier pointed out in 2005, we immediately reinforced cabin doors after 9/11, so planes can’t be used that way by terrorists any more: there won’t be any more 9/11-style flying-planes-into-buildings attacks.
So, now the only significant thing about air travel is that it’s a bunch of people in a small space who can’t easily leave. Which is a lot like riding a bus, or being in a crowded coffee shop. So do you think Americans should surrender our constitutional rights in those situations, and, if not, what exactly makes air travel special?
...Come to think of it, it’s also exactly like being in the TSA’s security line, which often have more people in them than the planes themselves. What exactly is going to prevent terrorists from just bringing bombs into lines with them? Before you answer, note that this isn’t hypothetical — terrorists around the world strike cafés and lines for exactly this reason.
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