Get rid of the Air Marshal Program?

[wadestock]

I believe today will be a giant step BACKWARDS for the Air Marshal program. We can attempt to placate ourselves with the thought that they are there to protect us...but it's the deadly trigger finger that's going to eventually sink in as troublesome in the back of the minds of way too many Americans. It will practically affect how we feel about flying and how we might eventually participate in any terrorist encounter while flying. How we participate or not IS a huge issue.

The Air Marshal incident scares the hell out of me. These guys are sitting there, day after day, week after week, month after month...and along comes a scenario. The training obviously emphasizes the use of deadly force...and they're ready and anxious to commit. I've seen a number of training films tonite on TV. They seem to stress high intensity reaction and shooting in the cabin compartment. Somehow...someone came up with the general training theory that instantaneous reaction is the big priority...most likely for the specific "911 type scenario"....with the expressed purpose to kill...and kill quickly. Problem is...you could find yourself in the middle of this insane enviroment....and it may not exactly follow the "book" or the "911 scenario".

Here's the problem....there are obviously many possible scenarios where "hair trigger" deadly force won't mix with a situation where the distinction between passengers and terrorists might not be blurred. Who's not "following orders"? Who's the ones who are terrorists? Who are making terroristic moves? Since the use of deadly force can be triggered by "not following orders" followed by making an terrorist threat....then you have the potential for a can of worms....ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PUBLIC ISN'T TRAINED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!!!

IS THERE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT HERE?

Suppose you're on a plane...there is a suspected terrorist situation unfolding...but it's not so clear how it started or who started it. A plane layout inherently means a large number of people will not get a proper perspective. Someone starts making threatening moves in your vicinity...people become uneasy....you see people pushing and shoving...it's hard to see in the plane exactly who's doing what to whom.... then YOU participate (possibly with others) to try and restrain a person that APPEARS to be a terrorist. Meanwhile....unknown to you an Air Marshall comes into the picture...but...are you sure that he's an Air Marshall and is he sure that YOU AREN'T a terrorist???

a. How will an Air Marshall that has a trigger finger to kill know who to start shooting if he didn't see "who did what to who" right from the beginning? Will a terrorist be capable of playing into the dilemma of "Air Marshall" vs. passengers?

b. Does it worry you at all that these guys will KILL anyone who is threatening or who may not (in the course of any high intensity situation) be completely tuned in to the specific commands they are yelling? Who is the one who is in authority and will you listen to someone yelling at you when you think you're being threatened?

c. How would you be assured that this is an offical Air Marshal (being in plain clothes)....and in such a high intensity situation....would you hesitate......or will you risk appearing "terroristic" in your split second of indecisiveness?

Of course this scenario could be turned inside out and argued...but here's the most important point....

....would YOU....

Ever consider participating in ANY anti-terrorist action while traveling on a plane in the future?....or will there be a little bird inside that says....no way...can't risk it.

Are you under the impression that you should or shouldn't participate in an encounter? You've had no training, no real understanding of what the Air Marshalls might ask you to do in any particular scenario...so how will you react?

I know one of the greatest rules of thumb established after 911 was the belief that Americans could rally against any plane hijacking and stop it in its tracks. In fact...perhaps the downing of the last hijacked plane in PA gave more of an anti-terrorist shield than ANYTHING actually done since.

You may not want to make the connection now...but you can bet your ass...this Air Marshal incident could be advertised as good news...but in the end its gonna culminate in some real bad news....

I see a huge subliminal cloud falling over America that is going to settle in and suggest to a huge number of people....

hmmmm...stay out of it. An uncertainty....a FEAR that they won't forget....just enough to hesitate...avoid the involvement.

Instead of the Air Marshal program (aside from the obvious fix of prying some bucks to pay for 100% screening)...we'd do better to have a little 10 minute film at the beginning of each flight that instructs passengers to join together to subdue ANYONE who attempts to take control of the plane.