How safe do you feel?

Screeners at Newark Liberty International Airport failed 20 of 22 security tests conducted by undercover U.S. agents last week, missing an array of concealed bombs and guns at checkpoints throughout the hub's three terminals, federal security officials familiar with the results said.

It gets worse

screeners at Newark missed fake explosive devices that were hidden under bottles of water in carry-on luggage, taped beneath an agent's clothing and concealed under a leg bandage another tester wore.

Additionally, the official said screeners failed to use hand-held metal detector wands when required, missed an explosive device during a pat-down and failed to properly hand-check suspicious carry-on bags. Supervisors also were cited for failing to properly monitor checkpoint screeners, the official said.

"We just totally missed everything," the official said.

So all that taking off of shoes, waiting in endless lines, throwing away of water and other liquids, not being able to bring toothpaste along, and watch lists are just a dumb show or to remind us peons that Big Brother is in charge and ready to keep us in our places. Somehow I think if high ranking government officials, shit any kind of government official or even the occasional member of Congress flew commercial that these sorts of "we just totally missed everything" incidents wouldn't happen.

But hey, at least we're fighting the terrorists over "there" so we don't have to fight them over "here." Well, maybe it's not quite so clear exactly what we're doing over "there."
posted by Idle Crank at 11/01/2006 01:44:00 AM