Now for a brief break from conference blogging--just how idiotic is this?

Beards are out. So are jeans and athletic shoes. Suit coats are in, even on the steamiest summer days.

That dress code, imposed by the Department of Homeland Security, makes federal air marshals uneasy — and not just because casual clothes are more comfortable in cramped airline seats. The marshals fear that their appearance makes it easier for terrorists to identify them, according to a professional group representing more than 1,300 air marshals.

"If a 12-year-old can pick them out, a trained terrorist has no problem picking them out," said John D. Amat, a spokesman for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Documents and memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security and field offices of the Federal Air Marshal Service say marshals must "present a professional image" and "blend unnoticed into their environment." Some air marshals have argued that the two requirements are contradictory.

No kidding.

Why don't they make them wear an Air Marshal Dillon Badge, too?

It is not easy for an Air Marshall to hide and also do their job. All an alert passenger needs to know is their basic operating MO. For instance, they are going to be positioned near the front of the cabin in order to prevent someone from getting to the cockpit. So look in first class or right behind it. Second, they are going to be watching everyone coming on board the plane, so look for the person who is alert, rather than the person who has his nose stuck in a magazine.

Kelly: Two of the last three times I flew, that described me quite well... guess it's a good thing I remembered not to wear a suit jacket, I might have been unfairly marked out

That said, there's still a difference between "very hard to detect", "inconspicuous", and "blatant". Achieving the first is often impractical, but achieving the second, when possible, is just good sense. (think of, say, police officers in unmarked cars - which are often very easy to spot if you expect them, but certainly less apparent than an idling patrol car)

Certainly it's not perfect, but while the Air Marshalls are trying to profile the passengers, a terrorist can easily profile the passengers as well. Chances are that the little kids and grandmothers are not going to be Air Marshalls.

This person has an idea...

It would be nice to know who was responsible for this little exercise in bureau-speak policy making and kick their stupid behind out the door. Can anyone find out?

a) Why did it take the NYT over a month to "break" this story? I read about the dress code issue over 5 weeks ago in an article published by, of all people, the LA Times.

b) I don't ever plan on wearing a suit on an airplane flight, and can only think of one, maybe two reasons to do so. I don't look "slovenly" as described in the blog linked above, but most flights are uncomfortable enough without donning additional clothing and uncomfortable shoes. Let the marshals "dress down", like undercover police officers have been doing for years.

Kelly, are you proposing that we make grandmothers and children into air marshals?