What is so wrong about how our gov't has mishandled our national security after 9/11 has little to do with restricting any particular item in any particular place. That's small stuff.
The big stuff is what it is doing to our national character. We are increasingly encouraged to be passive, trusting the "professionals" to "protect us."
The single largest resource for safety and security nationwide has been willfully ignored, even after the example set by our first combatants in this "war on terror."
The Heroes of United Flight 93 FOUGHT BACK. They RESISTED. They "followed protocol for hijackings" until they found out enough to know the old rule was not going to help them. Then they acted. This is as it should have been.
The rules (of hijacking, and some other things) have changed. Unfortunately, our gov't hasn't. They are still power hungry, distrustful, ignorant, stubborn idiots. They enact more laws and regulations to keep us "safe," when what they should have done is to encourage us all to take responsibility for our own safety.
Real, long lasting, meaningful safety comes from the citizenry, not the government. "Homeland Security" and the TSA can at most provide a veneer of "security." But there aren't Air Marshals on all, or even most flights. These "officials" have deliberately stalled arming pilots.
Worst of all, they ignore all of the force embodied in air passenger rosters and what "ordinary folks" can do in an emergency.
On 9/11, the Pennsylvania passengers had to "wing it" when they realized the new paradigm. If they had known from the start to RESIST, then that plane wouldn't have crashed, and there would have been four dead or beaten terrs when they landed.
To this day, the lesson that Flight 93 taught in burned wreckage in an isolated field has been IGNORED by our "protectors."
There are, as far as I know, no guidelines on "use of force" by passengers upon an attempted hijacking. NONE.
INSTEAD, OUR CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED (UPON THREAT OF ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT) TO BE PASSIVE, COMPLIANT, OBEDIENT VICTIMS, WHO ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO LOOK TO OTHERS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
This goes far beyond any restrictions on tools on board aircraft. Yes, there are some good reasons to restrict some items on planes. Chemical sprays, certain flammables, untrained people with guns, maybe even trained people with guns. But not knives, kubotans, clubs and other impact tools.
The terrs would not get enough concealed ordnance on board to take over a plane full of RESISTORS, either armed or unarmed.
You either take "9/11" seriously or you don't. Stating that you don't want "any weirdo or nutcase" to have a knife or to think he is "Rambo" is not an excuse for treating passengers like cattle. Yes, the nutcase with a pocketknife can be a problem. But he can be dealt with without crashing the plane. Not so organized terrs.
They need to be dealt with by instant mass counterattack.
But there needs to be a plan and some education:
1. In an emergency, obey the flight crew.
2. If the flight crew is attacked, COUNTERATTACK IMMEDIATELY.
3. If there is a disturbance, find the flight crew for orders.
4. If flight crew is not available, take appropriate action. If there is violence involved, COUNTERATTACK IMMEDIATELY.
5. If someone is threatened (knife at throat, etc.), COUNTERATTACK IMMEDIATELY. Why? They could get hurt! Yes, and the plane could be crashed, killing all. The hostage's chance of survival in case of terrorist attack is to kill the terrs, so first aid can be rendered, and the plane can be landed so all injured can be treated.
5. EVERYONE PROTECTS THE COCKPIT AT ALL COSTS.
Since I'm not a regular flier, my examples above may need some modification (ie, maybe wait a measured minute for any Air Marshals to take action--after the minute, they probably aren't there), but they serve as an example. Training and education will reduce the ever-feared "overreaction." There could be some other things, too, like classification of certain fliers with police, military, security experience, etc.
Ignorance will only aid the terrs in their mission or will result in more danger due to a delayed counterattack.
Fliers know now that "it's just a hijacking, stay calm and obey them" is BS. "Ordinary hijackers" know that too. If they are stupid enough to try it, waste them.
Why are there no "rules of engagement" for fliers so we may better act in an emergency?
Because our gov't thinks we are incompetent fools, and wants us to think we are incompetent fools. I have no respect for most of these "experts." Including TSA, etc. THEY ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE US TO BE PASSIVE VICTIMS.
In the "war on terror" (as in all wars) we need THE SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE, not blind, unthinking compliance.
There are certain things the "authorities" can do better than the citizens: bomb detection (which they are behind at, since a lot of their silly "security" has gone into confiscating nail files), overseas intelligence, and running a military are some of those things. But daily security is something that all citizens need to be aware is THEIR JOB.
That is, OUR JOB. There are more "good guys" than terrorists, criminals and crazies. When push comes to shove, we will prevail. All we need is encouragement and some guidelines. In other words, "working together."
So far, no go.
Karl
