13 February 2011

Perils of Passage, Part V

I am a frequent traveler.  Living in Moscow and traveling abroad frequently, I use Moscow's largest airport, Domodedovo, for most of trips.

Having been the subject of a terrorist attack on 24 January 2011, Demodedovo airport has implemented new "security" measures.  Whereas before passengers used to whisk through the airport to their airline counter, where they conglomerated with a small crowd hoping to check in and hand over their luggage, passengers are now forced to conglomerate in large groups in an attempt to X-ray their belongings before they can enter the airport.  

There were 200-300 individuals at my X-ray check point hoping to make their entry.  Of course, like me, all of those passengers had just came off of the roads where their luggage was in their full control.  In other words, thanks to the new "security" measures, it is now even simpler for a terrorist madman to attack the airport merely by getting out of his car, taking his suitcase bomb, merging with a large crowd at the airport entrance, and detonating the bomb.  And, instead of killing only 36 people, this time, the terrorist can score into the hundreds easily.

"Security:" A Bigger, Easier Target

This is the new "security."  Balderdash!

To add insult to injury, United Airlines's computerized security system determined that, somehow, my three-year-old daughter who was traveling me, was a "security threat."  This determination instigated a new "security procedure," which comprised of getting the bags X-rayed by going through the same X-ray point again and then having the carry-one luggage hand-inspected. 

This is completely surreal.  A three-year-old girl is considered a security risk.  To "improve" security, they put her belongings exactly through the same process that somehow did not make her safe the first time around - and obviously failed the second time because manual intervention was needed.  

Welcome to a more "secure" airport.  Incredible.

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