Schneier on Security

Anonymous • September 18, 2006 9:45 AM

I think what Bruce has labeled “security theater” rightly points out that such measures only will affect sloppy or poorly planned attacks.

That said, some level of minimal security should be applied. We used to ban knives and the 9/11 hijackers used boxcutters. That doesn’t mean you throw up your hands. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Based on this new form of suicide hijacking, we’re going to cut out big pairs of scissors and boxcutters and so on, too. These weapons can be used to take over a plane, which is then used as a weapon.” The old line of “not negotiating with terrorists” doesn’t work anymore when they don’t plan to negotiate in the first place.

So the ban on liquids is getting tired and pointless. But the ban on large knives and scissors (not dealing with shaving razors and the like, which seem like pointless inclusions)? Yes they are getting through, but that is as much a fault of people flying.

I recently flew cross country from Philadelphia airport, and a couple smuggled about a large pair of scissors so the woman could do some form of knitting or sewing. Pins, needles… I don’t care, but these things were monsters. And why should anyone believe the rules don’t apply to them? She spent the whole flight hiding them under her leg and in the seat pocket. I know, I know, she wasn’t a terrorist… but why should that really matter? We’re talking about someone who just doesn’t care about following rules.

Look, I think the liquid ban is pointless but I didn’t smuggle aboard a soda. I’ll be vocal about my opinion that the near-term usefulness of such a ban has passed, but that doesn’t mean I have to willfully violate it. We’re not talking about cherished freedoms to drink a soda I brought on board a plane. I can’t bring that same soda into many theme parks and movie theaters, either.

I was very disappointed in the general principle that this person just felt she was above the rules. I know, I know… there were no terrorists on the plane… if the same sort of terrorists even exist anymore… but what if she wanted to bring her firearm aboard because it was a gift or heirloom and didn’t trust the check-in procedure? There’s really no difference between the two. It’s a person not caring about the rules and believing they are better than them.