They call it security...

(Warsaw, 10/Sep/06)

I’ve been travelling quite a bit this week, first Berlin, then London, and finally Warsaw. I am currently in Warsaw airport, on my way back to Brussels, and quite annoyed after all the security checks I had to go through. Almost two hours queuing. I don’t think I ever queued for so long in an airport. All because they check hand luggage thoroughly piece by piece looking for something that may be used as weapon or explosive. No toothpaste, no drinks, computers turned on and off in front of the officers, all that stuff after the alleged attacks in London a few weeks ago… In my opinion taking security to these levels is simply ridiculous. It is always possible to bring explosive or weapons in. For example, many laptops take can take two batteries. One can be a real one to switch the computer on in front of the police, and the second one a bomb. Unspottable. And even one battery can be manipulated. Typically they contain several units inside the same battery. The difference cannot be seen in X-rays. Explosives can be placed in plenty of places. It is a matter of imagination. Other dangers that are completely disregarded: crystal bottles. I bought a crystal bottle of juice at a café in the boarding area, and there are plenty of bottles of whiskey, champagne and other spirits for sale here. Each one of these can turn into a weapon just as plane cutlery was used to hijack the planes in 11-S. It’s only a matter of having one group of terrorists trying to use a new technique to create terror, and then the police will add the new idea to the already extensive list of potential dangers. Meanwhile, nobody checks what you carry when you travel by metro, by train, by bus, … And there have been examples of blasts in all of those means of transport.

I experienced another of those inconsistent security polices during the London trip. I took the Eurostar train under the Channel and they only made a quick scan of my luggage. I didn’t need to turn on my computer in front of the officers - which as I just learned is a requirement of strict application according to the Polish Police. Once in London, I moved around freely and I crossed the town in the tube without being questioned. Nevertheless on my way back my cab was stopped at a police checkpoint in the street. We had two dogs sniffing the car, and a chemical analysis of several surfaces around the driver’s seat. Never saw something like that. Anyway, no explosives found, so I could proceed with my trip back to Waterloo Station. Final surprise of the day, I was allowed to go back to Belgium without showing my ID card to anybody. Haven’t they heard about Shengen space of which the UK is not part of? Besides, I could bring in the train and through the X-ray scanner a bottle of water despite the sign saying otherwise outside the checkpoint. How to explain this laxity after the careful scrutiny in the cab? Random checks increase the statistical chances of finding terrorists, I agree, but I still cannot see how different corps can apply such different standards and especially where all this security paranoia is going to lead us to. Does the current terrorist threat in the Canary Wharf area justify policemen walking around with chemical labs? And two hours waiting at the “heavily threaten” Warsaw international airport?