“…it’s likewise foolish to believe any suicide bomber, after waking up from a long nap on an overseas flight only to find himself in the stay-seated hour, would say to himself: “Damn! Missed my chance.” ”

True enough big fella, but it may be that the rule is designed to identify potentially suspicious activity as soon as is possible. So the agitated guy who bolts from his seat may be a terrorist. Or he could be a guy like me who’s been holding his water well beyond any reasonable limit.

Unfortunately we live in a world where it’s prudent in some environmetns to deem every stranger and their every act as suspicious until proven otherwise.

A transcript of this mini-lecture is available from McClatchey Press for a nominal fee.

Wait a second, this is a transcript.

No doubt, many an air traveller provides an affirmative response just to avoid the inconvenience of a search. Kinda short-sighted, but human natural, I reckon.

It was a great man who once said that there is no security without inconvenience (and soon, virtual, buck-naked body scans coming to an airport near you). We citizens of a free society have to willingly shoulder some of the required vigilance if we want to catch these dips–ts before they wreak their havoc.

And G. Dan, I been thinking again. The good news is that it’s on a subject actually related to this blog.

I know many of us hold Homeland Security and the dedicated members of TSA in less than high regard. Having said that (and I just did) do results-to-date (September 12, 2001 to the present) indicate that they’re actually doing a pretty damned good job?

And Happy New Year, you big galoot!