"Flying Blind" refers to the way our politically correct policies on screening passengers before flight effectively blind our security apparatus to the most likely dangers. The author, Michael Smerconish, is a radio personality in Philadelphia. He got on this issue when he was taking a flight with his family and his eight year old son was selected for "secondary screening". Makes sense, right? Many terrorist acts have been committed by eight year old boys.
Then he heard John Lehman questioning Condoleezza Rice during the 9/11 hearings and was shocked to hear Secretary Lehman refer to a policy that airlines would be fined if they singled out more than two people of a given ethnic group, say Arabs, for screening. He then did an on air interview with Lehman, then wrote a news article, then a TV show on this issue. He also interviewed Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines who confirmed this PC policy about random screening.
So, if you think our security is enhanced by pulling aside children, old women, or other members of groups never implicated in terrorism, then this book really is not for you. However, if you would like to see how and why Norman Mineta insists on the present policy, you will find this book valuable. It is a short book and reads quickly. There is even a CD with portions of the author's radio show that are relevant to this book.
I believe our present policies on screening are foolish and putting us at risk. Smerconish is not advocating racial profiling, however, putting increased attention on those who are more likely to be terrorists simply makes sense. Check your blood pressure before you read this book because when you see how out of it so many in our government are you might explode.
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