We can no longer bring liquids and gels onto commercial flights. Asinine.

In Britain, passengers can’t bring much more than money and a passport onto commercial flights. Asinine.

Two years ago, I carried a fueled Zippo onto a commercial transatlantic flight. That I could do that legally was also asinine.

Obviously, there needs to be some middle ground. We shouldn’t allow people to carry knives, firearms, or explosives onto planes. On the other hand, we shouldn’t be restricting so many mundane items. Where does it stop?

Britain has banned portable electronic devices because they could be used as detonation devices. The ban covers everything from laptops to cell phones, and it might include wristwatches. But does it include hearing aids? I highly doubt it. If a detonator could be made from a wristwatch, then it could certainly be made from a hearing aid. All of that security; all of those inconvenient restrictions; all circumvented by an “essential medical device.” Should we ban hearing aids? I don’t think so.

We take our shoes off at the airport nowadays so that they can be scanned for explosives. However, enforcement is not consistent. I’ve been allowed to walk through wearing sandals a number of times. Imagine how much plastic explosive could be smuggled aboard if it were formed into the shape of sandals. Even if sandals were scanned, that wouldn’t stop anybody from smuggling things aboard “down there.”

The real threat doesn’t come from passengers passing through normal security checkpoints, worthless as they are. If somebody really wants to get something through that checkpoint, I have no doubt that they would manage it. The real threat comes from the gaping back door. CNN is reporting that “Among those arrested were … a Heathrow Airport employee with an all-area access pass…”

Bloody hell! You’re telling me that we’re jumping though all of these hoops at the front of the airport when at least one of the conspirators had a pass to bypass security?!? Jhuyytjuhhyujr5fujhy … Sorry, just banging my head on my keyboard there. Very frustrating.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m glad that planes were not blown up. I’m glad that the conspiracy was uncovered (although I somehow can’t stop thinking about Operation Northwoods). I would much rather go without my cell phone than die. All I’m trying to say is that our priorities are misplaced.

Instead of causing all kinds of inconvenience at airport security checkpoints, let’s focus on intelligence work. Intelligence work (including an initial tip) led to the shutdown of this plot. We should rely on intelligence work to foil future plots as well — just don’t invade my privacy in the process. If we try to stop everybody at the checkpoint, then the real threats will simply avoid the checkpoint. In the meantime, there will be a lot of thirsty, bored, unproductive people on flights.