> It is incomprehensible to me that a small group, armed with nothing more
> than cutting hardware, could gain control of a commercial aircraft in so
> short a time. The fact that *four* of them did is the true measure of
> the sorry state of our security systems.

Lots of people have been saying this, and I think it's utter nonsense.

Explain to me the security system that will have at least a 10% chance of
detecting every razor blade in every bag of luggage, or a ceramic knife
strapped to someone's leg.

No, the upgrade to the security system that's occurred since Tuesday is a
change to the *passengers*.

Specifically, if someone from now on stands up at the front of a plane and
yells "I have a, ah, well, it's *sharp* dammit, and I'm taking over this
airplane" they're going to get ripped to bits by the passengers who now
understand that at this point their options are to choose from: A) an
unscheduled and permanent visit to the Lincoln Bedroom, or B) getting shot
down by a US fighter, or C) fighting back and trying to regain control of
the aircraft.

The fact that pilots are now less likely to let them into the cockpit is
another factor.

The tiny knife ploy only works if the terrorist can expect that the
passengers will think that all they need to do is sit quietly and say things
like "Why no, Canadian actually" and that they will all get released
eventually.

But the old rules have now changed forever.

As the people on the fourth hijacked plane proved on Tuesday, given
knowledge of what is likely to happen to them your average pack of grumpy
peanut-eating air-travelers are quite capable of putting up a fight.

G.

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