cawacko
Well-known member
underwear, according to this AP story just put on the wire:
Honolulu, Hawaii--AP--Shortly after delivering a strong critique of his administration's Transport Security Agency, President Barack Obama announced a radical new measure to safeguard the nation's air travelers against terrorism--a ban on underwear for passengers.
While the move is considered drastic, an administration spokesman said the TSA and all airports don't have the technology to detect plastic explosives woven into underwear, the method attempted by the Nigerian passenger suspected of attempting to blow up a Northwest airliner two days ago.
"We know it's an inconvenience," the spokesman said. "But it's probably better than taking away blankets and computers from passengers, as we previously ordered, and if you're already bending over to take off your shoes, is it asking too much to briefly lower your pants or raise your skirt at the security gates?"
The new measure follows a ban on carrying bottled liquids on board, and a requirement that all passengers take off their shoes in order to send them through an X-ray machine. Both steps were in response to terrorists trying to use bottled liquids and shoes as explosives. But this one immediately set off an outcry, especially from right-wing religious groups who decried it as "indecent." Several Republicans senators promptly issued a statement that said it was "naked politics," trying to divert attention from the poor performance of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano.
And the article goes on and on, but says no decisions have been reached on diapers or thongs. Frankly, I think Obama has finally gone too far.
Honolulu, Hawaii--AP--Shortly after delivering a strong critique of his administration's Transport Security Agency, President Barack Obama announced a radical new measure to safeguard the nation's air travelers against terrorism--a ban on underwear for passengers.
While the move is considered drastic, an administration spokesman said the TSA and all airports don't have the technology to detect plastic explosives woven into underwear, the method attempted by the Nigerian passenger suspected of attempting to blow up a Northwest airliner two days ago.
"We know it's an inconvenience," the spokesman said. "But it's probably better than taking away blankets and computers from passengers, as we previously ordered, and if you're already bending over to take off your shoes, is it asking too much to briefly lower your pants or raise your skirt at the security gates?"
The new measure follows a ban on carrying bottled liquids on board, and a requirement that all passengers take off their shoes in order to send them through an X-ray machine. Both steps were in response to terrorists trying to use bottled liquids and shoes as explosives. But this one immediately set off an outcry, especially from right-wing religious groups who decried it as "indecent." Several Republicans senators promptly issued a statement that said it was "naked politics," trying to divert attention from the poor performance of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano.
And the article goes on and on, but says no decisions have been reached on diapers or thongs. Frankly, I think Obama has finally gone too far.
