Yonatan Zunger (zunger) wrote,
Yonatan Zunger
zunger
A mixed bag of information about some provisions of the new intelligence bill. On the good side, it requires the TSA to establish a process for getting people off the no-fly lists, and directs them to start installing various devices like explosive residue detectors and evaluate blast-resistant cargo containers. Still no requirement on depressurizing suitcases before loading, which is a pity. On the not so good side, it has the TSA keeping logs of everyone who flies anywhere. (Good data mining, but I repeat a previous estimate: We will need internal passports to travel within four years if this goes on) On the somewhat incomprehensible side, the bill bans butane lighters in carry-on luggage.

(Yes, you could make those explode, I suppose. It would take a good deal of work, and it would be hard to rupture a hull that way. Would they also like to ban pens? I'm pretty sure I could kill someone with mine - it's sturdy enough to penetrate to various vitals. Maybe we should only be allowed crayons.)
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  • 4 comments

johnnybrainwash

December 30 2004, 21:01:41 UTC 11 years ago

I got an idea for intelligence reform: let's can all those agencies and start over.

They missed the collapse of the USSR. They dropped the ball on 9/11 and continue to drop the ball on al Qaeda (if there even is such a thing). They got bullied into issuing a pack of lies about Saddam's non-existent weapons. They totally misunderestimated the effect of our high-tech weapons on Serbian forces in Kosovo.

Rumsfeld's redesign of the military is all dependent on good intelligence, but we seem to keep rewarding failure in the intelligence community.

tyrsalvia

December 30 2004, 21:22:53 UTC 11 years ago

A couple of months after 9/11, Chris and I flew out to visit his family for the holidays. While waiting, we were in an airport restaraunt getting something to eat. They gave us a metal fork... and a plastic knife.

Honestly, a metal fork is *so* much more dangerous than a metal butter knife!!

Yet another example of crazyness.

jholloway

December 30 2004, 23:24:11 UTC 11 years ago

At least a butane lighter has actually been used in an attempt to destroy a plane, which is more times than a nail file has.

zunger

December 31 2004, 00:41:44 UTC 11 years ago

Hmm. By that logic, a shoe has been used in an attempt to destroy a plane, and so we should all go barefoot. Anyway, why on earth are butane lighters banned but liquid-fuel lighters not? Or for that matter, matches, or flint and steel?