TSA Follies

First, we have this story, of a Marine put on a TSA no-fly list because he was detected with gunpowder residue on his combat boots.

Then, KLo over at NRO asks:

Small thing, all things considered, but wouldn’t an expired I.D. be something to notice?

Not in a sane world. I’ve commented on this before. And I just noticed in the last comment on that post:

And as far as security being “bullshit”? How many planes have been hijacked since new security procedures have been put in place?

And how many would have been had they not?

This is the “tiger repellant” fallacy.

“Why do you keep jumping up and down on one foot?”

“To keep the tigers away.”

“Are you crazy? There’s not a tiger within thousands of miles of here, except in zoos.”

“See? It works!”

It’s not the airport security procedures that have prevented hijackings (though they may have cut down on attempts)–it’s the fact that the passengers are much more alert now, and will never again allow another plane to be hijacked. Every flight from now on, as long as we remember Flight 93, will be Flight 93.