The issue of "Sky Marshalls" combines a little of the good 'ol American Wild West, with a dash of Rambo and Arnie Schwartznegger to pacify the Yanks, and the Oz legislators who are hanging off their shirt tails.
Organised terrorism is, no doubt, at least one (if not two) steps ahead of any of the amateurish bs dreamt up by the people who profess to be responsible for air travellers' safety. A small can of pressurised pepper spray, or mace, will be all that it takes to disable even the most proficient exponent of unarmed combat Sky Marshall).
As the latest would-be terrorist on American Airlines has demonstrated, not all hijackers NEED to take control of an aircraft to destroy it - he was willing to sacrifice himself, if it meant he could achieve his objective.
Pre-boarding security has still not reached an effective level. Almost EVERYTHING being done at present, is an overt display, meant to pacify the public in general, but a JOKE from the professional hijackers' point of view - the confiscation of nail cutters and nail files being just one case in point.
The best defence against these b@st@rds is only now beginning to be sourced - the other passengers!!!
It took the events of Sept. 11 to make slf realise they CAN make a difference.