Check security

US measures cannot fit all.

Countless international air travellers who do not like the ordeal of being felt all over by steely-eyed staffers and curse silently as they try to simultaneously rebuckle belts, slip shoes back onto feet and retrieve their laptops amid the melee of security check queues, will silently bless the combative chairman of British Airways, Martin Broughton.

He has voiced the thoughts of many by criticising the way excessive US security demands are being kowtowed to by his country’s airport operators.

The most irritating and unpleasant security measures have been foisted on people (particularly those bound for the US) because sundry wannabe terrorists concealed incendiaries in their shoes, underwear and toiletries on flights bound for that country.

Globetrotting Indians, including ministers and captains of industry, who have been at the receiving end of this toughlove policy that involves troubling many to presumably protect many more, should put their weight behind Mr Broughton.

The Americans clearly have no concern that for some, carrying personal hygiene and beauty paraphernalia in transparent plastic bags could be akin to walking around with a catheter bag.

Or that for others, being led aside for having a name that sets off some unspecified US alarm bell, even though it may be the Indian equivalent of John Smith, is actually demeaning.
    
Mr Broughton’s argument that countries should only implement those procedures from the lengthening list of US demands that dovetail with their own concerns is logical. Western airport authorities, the Americans specifically, could do with an idea or two from India when it comes to selective implementation.

It is unlikely, however, that they would put up giant placards announcing the list of people exempted from security drills.