johnadams.org.uk

After three airport experiences since last Thursday, I am now officially bored with the new security regime at UK airports. The story so far shows the evolution of the alert status:

• Date: Thurs 10/08/2006 Time: 16:30 Place: Glasgow Airport
  As most London flights had been cancelled, and only passengers were allowed into the airport building, the airport was largely empty. We only had to queue for a short while at check-in (Fast Bag Drop had been suspended), and we were the only people in security! We were not allowed to take any airside purchases (water, newspaper) onto the plane.
• Date: Sun 14/08/2006 Time: 16:30 Place: Southampton Airport
  Unfortunately as FlyBe have suspended their Fast Bag Drop service, so we had to queue for 40 minutes at check-in, and another 10 mins at security. This time, although no books, newspapers or magazines were allowed through security, airside purchases were allowed to be taken onto the plane. The biggest delay of the evening was when all London air traffic was rerouted around thunderstorms, thus blocking our route north.
• Date: Mon 15/08/2006 Time: 13:00 Place: Glasgow Airport
  Shorter queues in Glasgow, and the baggage restrictions had just been relaxed. Unfortunately my bag was too big for the new restrictions, but at least I could take my laptop on board rather than leaving it to the mercy of baggage handlers. This time we could take newspapers, books, mobiles, computers, MP3 players and anything except liquids through security.

They’re talking on Newsnight tonight about passenger profiling. This has been going on for years in Glasgow - all Northern Irish flights are subject to Strathclyde Police checks, so they must be profiling potential criminals as we walk past the officers on the way out of or into the airport.

If it helps to ease the congestion and speed our way through the airport, it has my support.

Like Roger I am angry and depressed at what is happening in the Middle East - the Hizbullah rocket attacks on northern Israel, the disproportionate destruction of Lebanon and the refusal of the US and UK to back UN calls for a cease fire.

So another voice is welcome - and that of the Lebanese Christian community is one that is not often heard. Dr Martin Accad is the Academic Dean of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon, and was in the US teaching when Israel bombed Beirut Airport. He writes in anger about what has happened his country. Worth a read.

Also worth a read in this thread is a gracious response from David Gushee, who Accad criticised, and a further, more hopeful article from Dr Accad.