Fly The Friendly Skies

This past weekend, we saw a major failure of the international anti-terrorist security system. The Netherlands, along with a host of other nations more inimical to the interests of the United States, allowed a radical Islamist to board a plane bound for the United States with explosive materials in his possession. It was only the hand of the lord which prevented a major airline disaster.

The frightening thing is that the agency in charge of airline security in the Netherlands claims that all procedures were exactly followed and implemented as written. This flies in the face of all the facts that have been revealed since the incident unless one concludes that the agency is telling us that all the inconvenience to passengers and intrusive procedures that have been instituted since 9/11 has been totally ineffective.

That run-down nations like Nigeria and Yemen, who harbor no liking for the United States and very little concern for human dignity or human life, should do a slapdash job of checking for terrorists or the possibility of terrorism is understandable. Not so with a progressive country like the Netherlands and therein lies the rub. If the security procedures are indeed effective then it seems, despite the protests of the Netherlands authorities, that someone wasn't properly doing his job.

Upon serious deliberations we came up with the perfect solution for the worldwide airline security crisis that has plagued the United States. Before any flight originating from a foreign country leaves its gate, a member of the security team which checked the passengers must certify that the plane is safe and then board the plane for the trip. If that doesn't ensure a more thorough check of security threats, nothing will.

I agree that the foregoing is a radical, rather impractical solution. The current thinking goes something like this: When the shoe bomber tried to blow up a plane we started to check passengers' shoes now we will have to check everyone's crotch, and in the future when someone finally comes up with the ultimate hiding places, everyone will have to throw up and void before getting on a plane.

The true solution is that we have to get tougher with our enemies. We have to do profiling, we have to do as much intrusive searching as we are technically able to do we have to put a total embargo on travelers who are nationals of countries inimical to our interests, and we have to minutely screen by means of personal interview anyone who has traveled to embargoed countries. We have to gain the ascendency over those who wish us harm and, yes, it will cost us, in treasure, and in lives.

The current outlook for this is dismal. We have a president who gives fine speeches but doesn't have the stomach or the willingness to hit our enemies where it hurts. The 9/11 criminals have been given a public forum for their denunciations when they are brought to trial. Our ability to get information from our captives has been emasculated. Our policy regarding piracy on the high seas reflects a pusillanimity unbecoming a nation with historically unprecedented strength.

Ironically, other less endowed nations have come to the realization that it is do or die. The Mexicans are fighting a battle to the death with their criminal drug elements and the Pakistanis are doing the same with their home-grown Al Quaida. Even the Europeans are beginning to see the threat from radical islam and the people are becoming disenchanted with their high sounding but hollow principles.

Maybe there is yet hope that we will come to our senses before it's too late.