Full Body Scanners: Are They All They're Cracked Up To Be?

We've heard a lot in the last couple of months about the lovely backscatter scanners that certain airports are using to screen passengers.  For the uninformed, the backscatter scanners are otherwise known as "full body x-ray."  In a recent report, Leon Kaufman and Joseph W. Carlson state that the backscanner scanners may not be as effective as TSA says when it comes to "protecting" us from terrorists. 

Kaufman and Carlson state that a large, beveled pancake-shaped item affixed to the abdomen could potentially elude the scanners because it could be easily mistaken for part of the human anatomy.  How about them apples?  The scanners that are supposed to protect us have a flaw that could be exploited by terrorists in order to harm us.  What is TSA's response?  They trust the machines.  Of course they do.  The TSA has invested millions in them and they aren't about to admit that they have made a hugely expensive mistake.  A TSA spokesperson states that "advanced imaging technology is a proven, highly-effective, tool that safely detects metallic and non-metallic items concealed on the body that could be used to threaten the security of airplanes."  That's bureaucrat-speak for "we don't care what the research says, we stand by our procedures."

The TSA also goes on to state that full-body scanners are but one tool in the aresenal on terror, however, they are the most visible and controversial.  They add that airport security has many layers.  Don't we all know it.  When the airport tells you that you need to get there about 3 hours before your flight in order to make it to the gate on time, there are obviously too many layers.  What TSA should do is to go back to the drawing board and look at what other airlines, like El-Al are doing.  Obviously, El-Al is doing something right.  I can't ever remember an El-Al airplane getting hijacked--ever.  We, however, are Americans, and we live under the pretext that the more government, the better.  We should look for ways to eliminate the government intrusion in our lives.  Ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, nine percent of people just want to get where they want or need to go.  it's that very small percentage that means us harm.  Why torment the "regular" folks?  Profile.  It would go a long way in engendering good will with the American public and eliminating some of the needless bureaucracy that has invaded air travel.  I would love to be able to not have to be at the airport at four in the morning to catch a 7:30 flight.