Say it ain't so

Somehow over the Boxing Day hubbub, I managed to miss the news about the failed terrorist attack on a flight to Detroit. I have, however, been unable to miss all the analysis and commentary that has followed. And frankly, I'm concerned.

Britain is lauding its denial of Abdulmutallab's student visa on a technicality. He made up a college, and somehow the government noticed. Wow, looks like they can stop idiots. However, it is British to complain, and so people are complaining that smart terrorists may get into the country.

Meanwhile, in the US there is talk about security system reform, as it appears that Abdulmutallab's father called the CIA to tell him about his son's extremist views. Abdulmutallab's internet postings have also been pointed to as a sign of instability.

"How did we miss this?" they cry. "The system failed! He got on a plane! It was sheer luck no one died!"

The countless security "measures" we must take at airports have actually been proven useless. All those x-ray machines at every gate in Amsterdam's Schipol airport? Useless. Taking off your shoes? Useless. Now will we have to take off our underwear? They're talking about full body scanners that will show EVERYTHING. "That's what we need!" crow the cowed. "Except the children!!" screech the Pedofinder Generals.

I'm actually quite concerned that the government is being criticised for not listening to a warning from a parent. Now I don't know what the conversation was like, but I do not relish the idea of a person being put on a no-fly list on the say-so of a single person, parent or not. I have horrible visions of my step-son calling the Home Office in a temper tantrum and saying I want to bomb Westminster. Thank god he's not that creative. But the point still holds. Can I get my ex barred from flying by reporting him as a terrorist? He's an alcoholic, so I imagine that any sort of hassle at the airport would result in some violent display on his part, justifying a missed flight. But I shouldn't even be entertaining such ideas. One person's comment shouldn't be enough to spark any more than an investigation.

Bring back common sense!