[aceki]

> The safety protocols have managed to protect airports and planes from further attack...

Sorry, but no. The DHS performed a study on the TSA's effectiveness[0], finding that the TSA missed concealed weapons, explosives, and other contraband 95% of the time. The reason the shoe bomber[1], underwear bomber[2], and the UA 93 hijacking[3] were unsuccessful was because of the passengers and crew on the flight. The TSA did nothing.

A TSA tactic that isn't as well known is the TSA SPOT program[4]. Basically, TSA agents stand around in the airport looking for "suspicious" activity which naturally leads to profiling (particularly for those of Middle Eastern descent). A score card from the program has been leaked[5], and with the sort of criteria on it, it would be easy to justify searching anyone at the airport.

This is speculation, but I suspect that giving passengers a false sense of security would make them less likely to notice an attempted hijacking, bombing, or whatever else. But at least they'll be more comfortable, right?

[0] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_shoe_bomb_attempt

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_253

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOT_(TSA_program)

[5] https://www.papersplease.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/s...