Security gone mad
 

On Jan 11,02 America West Screeners tried to take the Congressional Medal of Honor from 86 year old war hero General (Retired )Joe Foss. They claimed it could be used as a weapon!!

Wow.. ................... . :) The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. :)

How flaming stupid!

What's he going to do? Surreptitiously whirl it around his head like a sling or bolo then launch it at the crew?

He have to wait for the entire bloody cabin crew to stand in a line so he can take them all out with his single projectile.

Unless he has other medals too? Or coordinated with other 86 yo heroes to each bring a medal...

Now I understand. There was method in their bloody idiocy.

Here's a bit of background about Joe Foss, in particular his citation for a Congressional Medal of Honour : [quote]Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Fighting Squadron 121, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Place and date: Over Guadalcanal, 9 October to 19 November 1942, 15 and 23 January 1943. Entered service at: South Dakota. Born: 17 April 1915, Sioux Falls, S. Dakota.

For outstanding heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 121, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, at Guadalcanal. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from 9 October to 19 November 1942, Capt. Foss personally shot down 23 Japanese planes and damaged others so severely that their destruction was extremely probable. In addition, during this period, he successfully led a large number of escort missions, skillfully covering reconnaissance, bombing, and photographic planes as well as surface craft. On 15 January 1943, he added 3 more enemy planes to his already brilliant successes for a record of aerial combat achievement unsurpassed in this war. Boldly searching out an approaching enemy force on 25 January, Capt. Foss led his 8 F-4F Marine planes and 4 Army P-38s into action and, undaunted by tremendously superior numbers, intercepted and struck with such force that 4 Japanese fighters were shot down and the bombers were turned back without releasing a single bomb. His remarkable flying skill, inspiring leadership, and indomitable fighting spirit were distinctive factors in the defense of strategic American positions on Guadalcanal.<hr></blockquote>

This guy is a full on 100% war hero and pilot ace !

He's had airports, schools, etc, named after him, and search the net and you'll be inundated with links to stuff about him, e.g. <a href="http://www.cincypost.com/living/2000/cloon052900.html" target="_blank">http://www.cincypost.com/living/2000/cloon052900.html</A>

..... but perhaps the cruelest bit is that you can be pretty certain that it was some stinking 'wetback' who could barely speak English (but surprisingly good at Spanish) who did it to him ! <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

What I don't understand is this.

I can walk on board an A/C after having passed through security and at meal time I am presented with a range of weapons, made up of eating and drinking utensils. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

it's called implementing a plan before there is a plan....typical f.a.a.

On the other hand if he was planning to fly JAL perhaps they had a point...

<img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Friend of mine had an police officer go thru security ahead of him at an airport recently in the US. His paper work was OK and their was not problem for him to carry his gun aboard the aircraft. However, ..................... his finger nail clippers were taken away from him.

I would like to do as a man what no woman would do as a woman.

Friend of mine had an police officer go thru security ahead of him at an airport recently in the US. His paper work was OK and their was not problem for him to carry his gun aboard the aircraft. However, ..................... his finger nail clippers were taken away from him.

I would like to do as a man what no woman would do as a woman.

Just a couple of days ago I paxxed from Berlin Tegel to LHR. They had all of the pax take shoes, belts etc off and go through x-ray. After I put my shoes back on, proceeded straight into duty-free and bought 2 one litre glass bottles of spirits. What a weapon they make, especially when you've smashed the bottom off.

Where is the sense of it all ?