Security/Political Theater

There was one telling clue that the new security measures ordered by the TSA have more to do with both politics and security theater than a rational measure to enhance security:

Citizens of Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria, countries that are considered “state sponsors of terrorism,” as well as those of “countries of interest” — including Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen — will face the special scrutiny, officials said.

The obvious tell is the inclusion of Cuba. I have not seen a scintilla of evidence that the Cubans have had any involvement with al Qaeda.[1] The Cuban government is both atheist and communist, two groups that the radical Muslims of al Qaeda hate about as much as the radical Christians do.

The second tell is saying that "these are the people that we will check", which is more of a roadmap to al Qaeda of what passports any future terrorists should carry. The Taliban has fighters from China, Russia, Turkey and a number of Arab nations. There seems to be no shortage of second-generation immigrants in Britain who have become radicalized; the four men carried out the London bombing attacks on July 7, 2005 were all British citizens. And we have had our own homegrown terrorists: the Ft. Hood shooter, the shooting of two Army recruiters in Arkansas, the several mostly bumbling attempts and, of course, the bombing of the Murrah Building fifteen years ago.

Is the DBP going to start enhanced screening of people with British or American passports?

I didn't think so.

[1]From the Cuban point of view, the United States is arguably a state sponsor of terrorism.