Clive Irving writes in U.S. to Ban Laptops in All Cabins of Flights From Europe:
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The Department of Homeland Security will ban laptops in the cabins of all flights from Europe to the United States, European security officials told The Daily Beast. The announcement is expected Thursday.
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Irving does a good job of illustrating the increased risk from the laptop ban, but misses the real motivation behind the ban. Yes, yes, DHS says it:
…continues to evaluate the threat environment and will make changes when necessary to keep air travelers safe.
“Threat environment” my ass!
Remember the UK has been reduced to claiming people with knives are terrorists.
Armed police carrying out a counterterrorism operation Thursday swooped in on a man they said was carrying knives in a bag near Britain’s Parliament and arrested him on suspicion of planning terrorist acts.
A European security official familiar with the individual said the suspect was known to British security agencies and was thought to have been inspired by the Islamic State group.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, said the discovery of knives suggested an attack might have been close to fruition. Authorities haven’t released the man’s name.
London’s Metropolitan Police said the 27-year-old suspect was stopped and detained “as part of an ongoing operation” by the force’s counterterrorism unit.
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“…swooped in on a man they said was carrying knives in a bag…”
That sounds more like a Saturday Night Live skit than a terrorist attack or potential one.
Shake the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tree really hard, by leakers or FOIA requests and I’m betting the following will fall out:
Alcoholic Drink Consumption On Europe to US Flights
- Underage and kill-joys: 0
- Parent with one child: 3
- Parent with two children: 5
- Business flyer with no laptop: 1 per hour of flight time
Once this data began to circulate among airline companies, the fate of laptops was sealed.
Increase alcohol sales are the primary goal of the laptop ban.
PS: If you think I am being cavalier about the risk from terrorism, consider that 963 people were killed by police officers in 2016. Versus 54 people in “terrorist” attacks, all by US citizens.