Screening airline and airport employees

While we’re all throwing away our sports drink as we head to the airport, the real problem may lie behind the scenes, with the employees themselves. The Times of India reports that one of the suspects may well have been an airline employee, enjoying the type of unlimited access to Heathrow that comes with such employment:

LONDON: Amin Asmin Tariq, who is among the 24 persons arrested over the alleged terror plot to blow up US-bound planes, is said to be an employee of a private Indian air carrier.

The airlines declined to comment when asked if Tariq, 23, was their employee.

A western media report said Tariq, a British national, is from east London and a security worker in Heathrow airport. He was arrested at Walthamstow dog track after a car chase.

When contacted, London Metrolitan Police said they would not give out details about the arrested persons unless they are charged.

Tariq is not the only terrorist suspect with an airport connection. According to Michelle Malkin, one of the recently arrested Dearborn suspects also had a close airport connection: Ali Houssaiky’s mother worked at Metro airport.

I’m irresistibly reminded of the fact that, whenever I fly, I clutch my luggage around me in the waiting area, for fear some light fingered thief will walk off with it. And I do this despite knowing that most airport theft results from employee crime rings stealing luggage in the back rooms. (Hey, I used to watch 60 Minute exposes.) What we’re seeing now is that concept taken to the n-th degree of ridiculous: as we’re all standing barefoot and thirsty in line at the airport, the terrorists wave their employee IDs and walk blithely onto the airplanes, armed and murderous.