TSA, The Handicapped, and Terrorism

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An elderly woman in the late-stages of leukemia was forced to undergo 45 minutes of additional screenings last Saturday when she tried to board a flight out of Northwest Florida Regional Airport, her daughter told FoxNews.com

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But when Reppert made it to the check-in line, Transportation Security Association agents singled her out because she was in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs require other security measures to be employed since they don’t go through metal detectors.

Read more: Dying Woman Undergoes Additional TSA Security Screening, Says Family - FoxNews.com

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BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber in a wheelchair blew himself up at the entrance to a police station north of the capital Baghdad on Sunday, killing three people and wounding 18, officials said.

Read more: Wheelchair bomber attacks Iraqi police station - Yahoo! News

Florida isn't Baghdad, but what is your opinion?

I feel very sorry for the elderly lady but I know that extremist will do anything to get what they want. I think that this is the cost of living in a country that is on the defense from terrorism and that some unfortunate incidents are going to happen. I do, however, feel that demanding the elderly lady take the depends off went too far, as long as they could confirm that there was not a bomb or weapon in the clothing.

Any suggestions for a better way?

I cannot think of a single terrorist plot stopped by the TSA. I think the TSA is so worried about finding weapons such a finger nail clippers, snow globes, ect that they will miss finding a terrorists if he or she presents themselves.

There is nothing the TSA does to find bombs that can't be done cheaper, easier, less intrusive, and faster with dogs. Security theater.

What ever happened to those puffer chemical analysis machines? Stand in a booth, it blows air over the person, samples it for traces of explosive, where are they? The Googlenet gives me crackpot blogs and hairdryer ads when I look.