Holiday Travel Security

Five million Americans are expected to fly this week for Independence Day, and theyll see extra security when they head to the airport. The nations airport alert status hasnt changed, it remains at orange, but the threat of a car bomb is a big reason many airports have hardened their defenses since 9/11, putting vehicle barriers in front of the airport doors to keep a suicide bomber from getting in. And if you travel this week, youll also notice a lot more police. From Los Angeles to Chicago, Washington, D.C. to New York, the nations busiest airports have suddenly ramped up security. "Ive seen a lot more police here, and also just the lines are really long," says traveler Dawn Veilleus. At New Yorks Laguardia and JFK airports, the NYPDs elite "Hercules" teams moved in in a show of force over the weekend, leaving traveler Terence Clayton a bit puzzled. "Why dont we see you guys more often? Why does it take something to happen in another country for us to see you?" Clayton asks. Indeed, across the country, more cops, more heavy weapons, and increased vigilance at security checkpoints. Over the past six months, the TSA has added more random pat downs and background checks of airport employees, more behavioral profiling of passengers, more roaming k9 teams, and since last summers foiled plot to blow up ten U.S.-bound passenger planes, more undercover Air Marshals flying to and from the U.K. "Weve continued to increase and, to some extent, mix up the flow of Air Marshals to Europe in general. In the wake of what weve seen of course in the last couple of days, well do some additional surging of our Air Marshal capabilities and other personnel to the United Kingdom," says Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Secretary. But critics charge the nations airports and airlines are still far too vulnerable, with airport perimeters left unsecured and cargo often never checked. "We havent had an attack since 9/11, for the same reason we didnt see one before then. No one wanted to do it. If someone wanted to attack us today, they could cut through our security like a hot knife through butter," says Aviation Consultant Michael Boyd. The problem, of course, is that you cant guard against every eventuality, and its very expensive for cities to dramatically ramp up their police presence at airports. Which is why the public is urged to help authorities and report anything that looks suspicious.