Airport security intolerable

By JO-ANN ARMAO

I just got back from a trip during which federal security officials at the Orlando, Fla., airport confiscated peanut butter snacks from the family ahead of me. Two weeks ago, after a flight from Albany, N.Y., I was distraught to open a suitcase that I had checked only to discover that the Christmas presents my mother had carefully wrapped had been torn open in a search by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.

Normally, I would not think to complain about these events. I understand that a new world exists after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and that when it comes to ensuring public safety, what’s a little inconvenience? So what if that hungry family has to buy more snacks after clearing security? So what if I have to spend an hour rewrapping gifts?

My equanimity, though, evaporated upon reading Wednesday about how the TSA posted online a 93-page manual detailing some of its most closely guarded security secrets. The incident was said to be an accident, part of a solicitation for a contract, but that makes it no less infuriating.

Meaningless

Here I — and millions of other air travelers — are expected to go through hoops (shedding coats, jackets, shoes; surrendering babies for physical searches; allowing strangers to paw through our belongings), even as the officials entrusted with our safety do something that renders all those steps meaningless.

And therein likes the biggest danger: All along we have been told that there is a reason for all these silly things we are asked to do. “Trust us” has been the implicit command of the TSA. Not likely.

X Armao is a member of The Washington Post’s editorial page staff.