Terminal Futility by Hitchens

Anyone who has flown since 9/11 knows what a hassle it can be. Security, mindless questions, searches at the most inopportune times--all these things characterize an average airport experience. But Christopher Hitchens argues that the mammoth security machine we endure is little more than an illusion to make us feel like we're being protected from possible jihadists. He says

What we are looking at, then, is a hugely costly and oppressive system that is designed to maintain the illusion of safety and the delusion that the state is protecting its citizens. The main beneficiaries seem to be the pilferers employed by this vast bureaucracy—we have had several recent reports about the steep increase in items stolen from luggage. And that is petty theft that takes place off-stage. What amazes me is the willingness of Americans to submit to confiscation at the point of search. Every day, people are relieved of private property in broad daylight, with the sole net result that they wouldn't have even a nail file with which to protect themselves if (or rather when) the next hijacking occurs.

Read his article here.