Offtopic: Are we winning or losing the fight against terrorism?

Karen Lopez - listmistress@Infoadvisors.com — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:59:00 GMT

As far as I'm concerned, we have today just started to hand over our lives to the tiny number (relatively) of terrorists in the world. Sure, as someone who travels frequently, I want to have safe and reliable transportation. But like the 3-lighter limit ("we'll only allow you to start 300 fires on plane"), the "we'll replace the fake knives that have never cut anything with sharper plastic knives", and the "I'm sorry, I'll have to take your emery board because nail files are are not allowed" security rules, I just cringe when I hear about yet another ineffective attempt to secure our flights (see notice below), rules that have giant loop holes. So now business travellers cannot bring water on a flight, but parents can bring juice boxes and baby bottles full of who knows what. If you were a terrorists, what would your next step be? Change careers? Or find a child and pack up your Juicy Juice, formula, and Insulin boxes?

The analysts are already saying that this is the end of carry-ons for all passengers. No books, no purses, no laptops. I just don't know how that's going to work. I'm guessing that there will be exemptions for executive and first class passengers, plus for diaper bags and medically necessary stuff-- more security holes you could drive a tank through.

And who wants to guess just when the airlines will remember that they might want to put a couple more bottles of water and a few more cans of soda on their flights? I'm betting that sometime in the next month, all airlines will announce the end of free water and soda on all flights, because now they really do have a captive customer. Four dollar Coke can, anyone?

Sure, I'm fairly healthy and I can actually survive 5 hours without a Pepsi. And of course I wouldn't want to risk lives just for a Diet Dr. Pepper. But I have an odd feeling that we have reached a tipping point.

Meanwhile, we continue to hand over our hard-won freedoms, just what "they" want. Who's winning?

Toronto Pearson Update on Security Changes

Date of Release: Aug 10, 2006

Responding to the alleged terrorist threats in the United Kingdom, the Government of Canada has implemented enhanced aviation security measures at Toronto Pearson and at all airports across Canada.

The following security measures have been put in place by the federal government until further notice:

Effective immediately, for all flights to and from the United Kingdom and the United States, liquids or gels in containers of any size are not permitted to be brought onboard by passengers; this includes liquids or gels in carry-on baggage;
Effective immediately all flights, including Canadian domestic flights, liquids or gels in containers of any size are not permitted to be brought onboard by passengers; this includes liquids or gels in carry-on baggage.

Passengers may bring aboard baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is travelling. Prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket, insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines are allowed.

Karen Lopez: Musings on Data, Process, and Architecture

Offtopic: Are we winning or losing the fight against terrorism?