Why is the TSA easing restrictions on onboard liquids?

[JABBS]

Click here to read the entire article.

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My question is, why the change?

Is there no longer a terrorist threat? Hard to believe, with Osama Bin Laden still at large and our government not trying very hard to catch him. Does DHS now believe, as others have suggested, that it's near impossible to bring chemicals onto a plane, mix them, and ultimately detonate them? Do they no longer believe the plot to blow up airplanes over the Atlantic, foiled by the British, was plausible -- or repeatable?

[VWolf]

1. If it saves even one

republican vote, it's worth it.

See? Fewer restrictions means we're safer now. Safer, I tell ya!

[rsmith6621]

5. Yep November Is Getting Closer

cant you feel it...

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Mission accomplished.

The goal was to train passengers to carry on less baggage. Now that most are doing so, the TSA is relaxing the rule to a more sensible level* of restriction based on the perceived threat.

The road warriors will be able to walk on board with all their bags once again.


*sensible as in more palatable to the flying public as a necessary inconvenience, like the jacket, shoes, and belt striptease.

[JoMama49]

9. I think there was another mission to accomplish: people

scared of terrorists on planes -- now it's done its work, so why continue?

[City Lights]

10. Love your sig line.

:D

[Gormy Cuss]

12. What can I say? It's a gift.

;-)

[valerief]

3. It annoyed Repub voters. n/t

[wakeme2008]

4. For one they pissed off Starbucks which has stores inside

almost all secure areas.

[JABBS]

13. i tried to see

if anyone had written about airlines, or airport retailers, lobbying TSA, but couldn't find any examples. I thought that was a likely culprit, though.

[muesa]

15. If terrorists can infiltrate airport merchants

and sneak explosives into passengers consumables -- then we have much bigger problems.

And we do have much bigger problems --

And remember - those food court stores pay local taxes, and rent (which in many airports is a % of their gross).

[Warpy]

6. Angry passengers

a decline in ticket sales, and increasing ridership on Amtrak.

That's my guess.

[Richard D]

7. The realization of the impossibility . . .

. . . of putting together a two liquid bomb on an airplane. It ain't as easy as in the movies.

[ramapo]

8. Because they realize it is a moronic policy

But it is a wonderful way to maintain a level of fear.

The "no-liquid" policy demonstrates how easy it has been for a very small group of people to completely upset the proverbial applecart. Life has risks and one of those risks is that some nut is going to blow up the plance that you just happen to be on. Another risk is that you're going to be struck by lighting. I think the odds of the latter are greater than the odds of the former yet the whole world goes ga-ga over this "plot".

The U.S. has spent billions fighting the etheral terrorists. They have been quite successful in helping to drain our econoomy (or at least have it diverted to unproductive spending). I wish my investments could have the kind of return that the terrorists have received.

[muesa]

11. Before we get too political

1. Remember the old "Remain Over Night" baggie that Business Class travelers used to get on overseas flights --- and that Five Star Hotels used to give you on check in --- one day's worth of deodorant, shaving cream, plastic razor, tooth brush, tooth paste, floss - containers under 3 ounce size -- fit in a 1 quart ZipLoc bag. They're back.
   
   
2. "Consumables" (food, coffee, water, soda, candy, etc.) bought inside the secure area. I always thought this ban was silly. One point - in many airports the "rent" for food court stalls is dependent on the gross sales.
   
   
3. The American Diabetes Association has been quietly lobbying for some rationality.

[JABBS]

14. all true

but certainly someone could smuggle in a starbucks cup, no? a paper bag from dunkin donuts?

it wouldn't be difficult to fake buying something in the airport stores.

either there's a threat, and liquids and gels should be banned, period, or there isn't a threat.

and also, is the TSA finally testing the technology Japan offered us nine months ago?

[muesa]

16. A much more critical issue

with a link to

[JABBS]

17. wonkette

... linked to the JABBS post.

http://wonkette.com/politics/coffee/victory-for-wonkette-203001.php