Indeed not. It's unfortunate that the US had to virtually re-invent the security program overnight rather than the continuous development = followed by other countries. I suspect that much of the problem was also having = so many different jurisdictions all having a piece of the system. The = advent of the TSA has at least vested all the responsibility for screening in one authority. Perhaps a National Airport Police service would help on the outside so that a uniform standard would apply at each airport. My comment re the families at the airport was more intended to represent occupying waiting time for flights rather than visiting solely for that purpose. One isolated incident of bad treatment is what people remember = not the good times. I have to say I'm as bad for that as anyone else. Your own aviation photographers regularly complain about being treated = well by the Police one day and on another day being treated like a criminal. = This is the sort of thing that needs to be standardised on. There are no easy fixes I know but I really do hope that things sort themselves out as I always enjoyed my visits to the US -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Douglas Schnell Sent: 07 August 2003 06:32 To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Note to Logan Airport Screwballs The European media has a remarkable ability to find faults in anything American. I've always felt it was tied to an inferiority complex, but = =3D that is another discussion entirely. A comprehensive security program does not come together overnight. The = =3D UK, for example, has lived with The Troubles for many decades. If it = takes =3D us a few years to work out the kinks involved in a massive social = change, =3D you'll have to forgive us. One thought: if "many" tourists are coming to the US (with their kids no less!) to watch planes take off and land at various airports, then we = =3D need to seriously re-evaluate our tourism marketing programs. And somebody should alert Disney, because they have plain missed the boat. The "comment about the Brits" was a sarcastic remark in a opinion piece. Illustrating absurdity by being absurd is the way to interpret that "comment." Surely you didn't take it seriously, given the overall tone = =3D of the piece?