posted September 14, 2001 11:33 AM
In 1984, I had more than ample opportunity to see airport security measures in other countries. Here is a quick summary.
Mexico - Plenty of visible personnel. Mostly relaxed atmosphere.
London Heathrow - Tight, as a in-transit traveler little or no comfort. Basically a cattle pen.
Caracus - Highly visiable personnel but just for show.
Daharan Saudi Arabia - The tightest security. All baggage checked closely. Every violation of custom and law is dealt with. This included every magazine advertisement for censorship.
Now get this. I also stopped in transit in Amsterdamn. This airport has a very relaxed atmosphere most of the time. There was some tension though. My KLM flight to New York departed around 3 in the afternoon. I noticed that about 1:30 security suddely began to increase noticably. By 2 there was a tension. Shortly the El Al flight arrived from Jeruselum and began to disembark. The passengers were moved directly to a plane waiting to depart. 4 military vehicles surrounded the El Al flight and watched as 1 and only 1 baggage handler removed all baggage and placed it on the carts. It went directly to the other plane and was loaded by 1 and only 1 person.
While I was watching all this my flight was called. I was not happy to find out that the plane being loaded was my flight to NY and I would be on board with Jews and Palestinians headed for the US.
I entered the plane each group was on their own side. This was funny because on these wide body jets most of the seating is in the middle, but everybody was jammed into the window seats. The air was thick with hate. I took the same flight on 4 differnt occasions and each time was the same. Some years later, I waas working with a Dutch engineer and described this to him. He had served in the military security group that performed the airport duty often. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
posted September 14, 2001 12:56 PM
Interesting, and thank you! Always, for me, it is so important to widen my tiny horizon and get a glimpse of the big picture.
1984, heh? Wonder what Orwell would write about today
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
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Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted September 14, 2001 01:37 PM
I guess some people feel that Orwell had great vision. I think he just was very aware of the view from his perspective and was not afraid to note them. Them simply extrapolate them to the future.
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