[Mick]

Moreover, any safety measure that creates a grouping of people outside of the safety area (that is, a line to get through security) is itself a target.  We are lucky that nobody has yet decided to set off an explosive or take out a weapon at in the TSA at a busy airport line because the large number of people in close proximity would likely result in a large number of casualties.

BC

Indeed. It would be very easy to do. It is only a matter of time before it happens. We have not been subjected to much organized and carefully planned terrorism in the US since 9/11. The "terrorist" incidents in the US have been a few radicalized "free agents" who were not really part of a highly organized terrorist group. The DHS has probably thwarted a few that we don't know about. We have been lucky, but I can't imagine that will last.

After 9/11, I had a conversation with a representative of an FBI anti-terrorism task force who stated that there were 23 major terrorist groups in the United States, including three in the San Francisco Bay Area, of which they were aware at the time.  I suspect that DHS and associated agencies have thwarted far more terrorist incidents and groups than we're aware of.

[Mick]

Moreover, any safety measure that creates a grouping of people outside of the safety area (that is, a line to get through security) is itself a target.  We are lucky that nobody has yet decided to set off an explosive or take out a weapon at in the TSA at a busy airport line because the large number of people in close proximity would likely result in a large number of casualties.

BC

Indeed. It would be very easy to do. It is only a matter of time before it happens. We have not been subjected to much organized and carefully planned terrorism in the US since 9/11. The "terrorist" incidents in the US have been a few radicalized "free agents" who were not really part of a highly organized terrorist group. The DHS has probably thwarted a few that we don't know about. We have been lucky, but I can't imagine that will last.

After 9/11, I had a conversation with a representative of an FBI anti-terrorism task force who stated that there were 23 major terrorist groups in the United States, including three in the San Francisco Bay Area, of which they were aware at the time.  I suspect that DHS and associated agencies have thwarted far more terrorist incidents and groups than we're aware of.