Terrorism

I couldn’t go to bed the other night before watching 102 Minutes that Changed the World.  Why?  Because I wasn’t here.  I was watching CNN Worldwide video halfway around the world looking at  helicopter shots and talking heads.

They say the newest skyscraper being built is not being built to plan for an airplane attack.  It has much better insulaton on the steel, different and better stairwells that are reinforced by concrete.

They say to not prevent aircraft damage to buildings not by building to withstand aircraft attacks, but to prevent terrorists from aircraft, and preventing aircraft from buildings.  I think this is smart, because if flight schools prevent people without visas to take courses that only deal with steering aircraft, that should send a warning signal if they don’t want to take off or land.

The documentary of the 9/11 report demonstrated a series of failures, even as simple as NYC Fire and Police not being able to contact each other.

That said, I do have a problem with how TSA is dealing with US Citizens via scanners, pat-downs, palm swabs et al.  I’m not flying any more.  I was felt up at my local airport.  They offered me a “special room” but then I knew I might have been strip searched.  Better to search my bra in front of 1,000 other passengers.

After whoever let all these terrorists on the planes that crashed into WTC, Pentagon and Shanksville PA, get through after setting off metal detectors, the Bush government said all American citizens are suspect and must go through thorough detection at all airports.

There are so many government failures that day that I can’t believe 9/11 didn’t happen earlier or many times since, as FEMA has no idea how to deal with a hurricane or flood (I’ve been through two hurricanes, don’t argue with me).

I’d like TSA to remember, all you near high-school grads, that we pay your salaries.  We are citizens of the US of A and as such are entitled to travel within and without the country with appropriate documentation.

Ten years ago, the Customs Agent who processed me at LAX after a week of no flights into or out of the USA said, as I walked away, “Welcome Home.”  I cried and thanked him and said I was happy to be home.  I am happy to be home, and have spent stints in Europe since 9/11 but it’s not easy for an American to travel by air in our own country without being groped by high school dropouts.