Death doesn’t always come from above
Yesterday, I was sorely tempted to steal the train that you can see on the right hand side of this post.
Not because I wanted the train and not because I wanted to cause havoc and destruction, but simply to prove a point.
That train was left unattended, with the window and door of the drivers cabin open and with the engine running for as long as I stood on the other platform, which was a good 20 minutes.
I don’t get it.
I have to queue for hours at the airport incase my toothpaste container is capable of containing 5mls more toothpaste than the limit allows (while being 90% empty), yet a train which carries many more people than an aircraft can be left unattended with the engine running.
Lets be honest, it doesn’t take a lot to drive a train, well at least not if your intentions are to derail it and kill everybody.
Why is airport security so tight and yet the security when you board a ferry or a train non-existent?
Why do we put so much effort into protecting aircraft when at the end of the day it won’t really stop anybody who is even vaguely determined (which has been proven again and again)?
What are we so afraid of? Why do we worry only about aircraft?
Terrorists are reasonably smart you know. They know that if you can’t get into one place, you go blow up somewhere else with a lot of people!
That’s why it’s called terror! It’s not predictable! Predictable doesn’t instill fear!
It’s not about blowing up aircraft but killing people to make a (screwed up) point.
If security and safety is really such as issue, why aren’t we putting as much effort into protecting trains, subways, ferries and other large targets which are full of people and have the potential to be used to kill more people than they are carrying?
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Over time more people have been hurt and killed by terrorists in trains, subways, buses and other modes of transportation. It is only because of the 9/11 in New York that is making every one plane crazy.
You are completely right! I have often thought of this same issues since I took an Amtrak cross country recently and security was NILL!! It is ignorant and plain irresponsible of us to think that trains and even buses are not vulnerable and can be used in a terrorist attack.
The US still has a lot to learn about Security, if you ever go to Israel, you will see a marked difference, THEY understand security and they take nothing for granted.
Thanks,
JR
This sort of stuff makes me laugh considering the horeendous nightmare of security that one must go through these days. I firmly believe that most of what you see in air ports is window dressing. Out here in Australia, most regional airports dont even scan you until you arrive at a major destination. Sure, smaller aircraft arnt exactly a big target but just like trains its a concern.
Nicking a train, haha, you don’t know how many times I’ve thought the same thing. There seems to be very little security about that sort of thing. Actually I worry myself sometimes when walking round town thinking: “If I were a terrorist, there’s an opportunity there… and there… and there…”
You have got to be kidding me, 20 minutes! I truly feel we are over paranoid about airplanes now and we are really lacking at what could be done with trains and large trucks.
I agree, we seem to put all our effort into planes because it makes most Americans feel “safe.” They don’t understand that terrorists could just fly to Mexico and walk right across the border. Or better yet, how about come from Canada? And then catch a train! HA! All roads lead to Rome? All roads can lead to mass killing and terrorizing America.
Trains are enormously energy inefficient unless packed to the gunwalls with passengers. Leaving a train unattended like this is inexcusable.
Whenever I see a vehicle, often a delivery van, left unattended with its engine running I am sorely tempted to nick it. One day I will…
Paul, the problem is that there is no limit to being paranoid. Admittedly, security is now very important but every possible precaution cannot be taken. The trick is in intelligence flowing in from reliable sources. Britain has done this very well and I believe so has Australia and Indonesia. Other nations still have to.
It may really be, that they only think of 9/11 and so they secure airports most, and don’t think, that they should secure trains and buses as much as the airport. this could be a big mistake, because terrorists could use this gap in security, to place bombs in trains and buses easily.
I would have been tempted to jump in the train as well.