Re: The USA started all this crap ...
Just curious but have you forgotten about the Lockerbie bombing? THAT is the instance that started this data collection and the UK was a willing participant in providing passenger data.
You also didn't have the kind of attacks against buildings that we did either. Flight 93? World Trade Center? Pentagon? Might make you jumpy to fly.
Why record the meal type? Just one more piece of data to help determine intent. Did they also shave all their body hair off and wear white garments?
No, Jaitch your comment about "one hole" in the system does not pass muster. It is not a waste of money or energy to check airline passengers data when it is so easy to fool security on the ground, get on an airplane, take it over and use it as a weapon. ANY data is helpful.
The data is one part of a worldwide picture to tell where people have gone and what they have been up to. There is not enough caution in the world to prevent all the bad actors from causing harm. I for one think that most passengers that have been anywhere near the Middle East should be scrutinized further. One way tickets for foreign nationals without a long term visa and bought by a credit card for a known terrorist supporter are another. That info is part of the data we want from airline passengers and if you don't like it then don't come here.
Thankfully I have US Border patrol watching the river for illegals trying to cross into the US. They try it regularly and get caught. We also have the US Coast Guard doing the same thing. Can't say the TSA is even worth the powder to blow them to hell as they can't search properly anyway. The fact remains that some information is better than none.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
