Security is a populist policy, no screening for caterers, cleaners, baggage handlers, engineers, police (and history has well and truly proven they can't all be trusted) who else?
Freight which is loaded on board is not screened, and all this is before we even consider the benefits of screening.
Any self respecting terrorist can make his way through security without a ETD, it's a s simple as waiting until the screeners pick sme one ahead of you, we all do it, we all know it's simple.
Bullets, "grenades" and regularly other significant items make it through.
My point being it is a smoke screen is for the general publics benefit, I believe the way to fight it is in the media. Dispell the security myth publicly, high light the dangers to the general public. Public opinion is what drives our politicians, nothing else. Let the public know what really happens out there, we would all individually expect to be told the truth about public policy and procedure, why don't we grant the general public right?