It's not often that I agree with an American - but boofhead, I agree completely!
The only people that the new security measures really hurt are us - the ordinary man in the street. Our government over here in the UK has just introduced the possibility of imprisonment without trial (or even a proper hearing in front of a court) for people who "may have been" "involved" with "terrorist" organisations.
It's all utter pish!! George Orwell could have written this! A few people in power are too cowardly to realise that the best defence against terrorists is to keep on doing what we have always done - run a free and open society.
There is NO DEFENCE in any society against committed terrorists. All we can do is use good intelligence to try and cutail their actions. Any organisation that has the wherewithall to start someone training at the beginning and wait several years to use them WILL get around ANY security measure - that's the way it is. Someone in a priviledged position WILL get that bomb on to the aircraft; I don't like it any more than you do, but it's a fact.
It is not an excuse to stop your own citizens going about their daily lives in a lawful manner.
[Cheesy rant over - I apologise, but I also feel quite strongly about this!)