Catabolic
Everything you say is true and of course my company has guidelines but I feel you are being slightly disingenuous as you now are generalising whereas the original posting contained this line:
The captain was told in no uncertain terms that 'Its impossible to get a bomb on an aircraft in Europe' and what as he doing. ”
My point in replying was that I don't believe any manager would put such a line in an ops manual (he would be a very brave individual indeed or a fool) therefore there is no point in quoting such a line to a pilot after the event.
Guidelines are just that and for very good reason.