> But Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, cautioned against any knee-jerk reaction. > > “We need to have a commonsense approach to this,” he said. “There’s no point deploying huge extra layers of security and checkpoints for people to go through. > > “We have to recognize the fact that most airports are not only points of arrival and departure for passengers flying by air. They are also retail complexes, food courts, businesses that are trying to attract people in from the outside.” > > Baum argues that rather than installing more x-ray machines…

> Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight from Oslo overpowered a man who tried to hijack their flight to Istanbul on Wednesday. > > Police said the man was a Turk who had demanded that the plane return to Norway. via [bbc.co.uk](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12127570)Once again, we see that security measures are never 100% full-proof, but it doesn’t matter, because passengers are now prepared to defend themselves. Now can we all please stop having to take our shoes off?…

> At least 200 Wal-Mart stores will roll out security > announcements within 24 hours, Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman > said. By month’s end, 588 stores in 27 states will be participating > in the program. A short video featuring Napolitano will appear on > TV screens at select checkout lanes, asking Wal-Mart shoppers to > contact local law enforcement to report suspicious activity. > > “If you see something suspicious in the parking lot or in the > store, say something immediately,” Napolitano said in the video. > “Report suspicious activity to your local police or sheriff. If…

> Kudos to the T.S.A. if it anticipated the rush and had more staff on duty (why can’t it always be that way?). But it could also have also been that air travel volumes were lighter than anticipated — perhaps because passengers were perturbed by the new procedures and were traveling by other means (or staying at home.) It would be hard to regard the new procedures as a success if that were the case, particularly given that more people bypassing air travel for road travel means [more fatalities…

> There are two different philosophies. The Israeli view is that one looks for the perpetrator, not the tool or weapon. All passengers about to board a flight are interviewed. Many in this country erroneously describe the process as “profiling,” but I think a better description would be “triage.” The Israeli view is that one does not waste time and resources on passengers who do not pose any threat to safety and security. > > [How Israelis do air security](http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/11/yeffet.air.security.israel/index.…