(no subject)

[somedaybitch]

The bureaucratic mind at work, from the WSJ Political Diary:

"Before deploying from Savannah, Georgia to Iraq by a chartered airliner, the troops of the 48th Brigade Combat Team, a National Guard unit, had to go through the same security checks as any other passengers. Lt. Col. John King, the unit's commander, told his 280 fellow soldiers that FAA anti-hijacking regulations require passengers to surrender pocket knives, nose hair scissors and cigarette lighters. 'If you have any of those things,' he said, almost apologetically, 'put them in this box now.' The troops were, however, allowed to keep hold of their assault rifles, body armour, helmets, pistols, bayonets and combat shotguns" -- reported in the Air Finance Journal.

and federal agencies of *any* kind wonder why us street grunts belittle the fuck out of them. because, i don't know, they deserve it?

and seriously? who's gonna hijack a plane with a cigarette lighter? freeze, or i'll....i'll....light my peanut bag on fire!




h/t to samizdata

Comments

[boofadil.livejournal.com]

So, what? We trust them with our defense, with our rilly fucking expensive planes/helos/boats/guns/etc., but we don't trust them to get onto a plane with a fucking knife?!

That's just...yeah.

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

well, actually, we *do* trust them to get on the plane with a knife...just not a pocket knife. the combat knife's fine.

[boofadil.livejournal.com]

that's waaaaay better.

[arthurfrdent.livejournal.com]

right hand? meet the left hand. You two should get together and chat...

[thevaliumsofalj.livejournal.com]

On a regular plane, I would get it, cuz i remember Richard Reid, the shoe bomber guy, who tried to take down the plane by lighting his shoes that had explosives in them on fire - but on a plane full of soldiers?? why would they take all those things from them?? asshats..