Lighter ban ignites worry

News that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration plans to ban cigarette lighters aboard commercial flights should spark some concern.

Not because of the potential impacts to nicotine-dependent travelers, but because it's a pretty ham-fisted and dated way of addressing terrorism.

To put it another way, it's so 2001.

Richard Reid tried to pull off his shoe bomb caper in December 2001, three months after the events of 9/11. Did TSA officials wake up just the other day and realize that somebody could smuggle a bomb aboard a plane?

What's more troubling is the agency has not figured out how to deal with matches yet. The TSA could certainly ban those also, but how are airport screeners supposed to know people are even packing the would-be contraband since metal detectors are unable to discern them?

Visualize the security bottlenecks created by full-on baggage and body searches, not to mention the chilling effect on personal liberties.

But perhaps the most frightening aspect of the pending lighter ban is that it betrays a breathtaking lack of imagination and efficiency on the TSA's part.

It's doubtful terrorists are planning Shoebomber Version 2.0. They are probably salivating over other plump and juicy soft spots in America's transportation system, such as air cargo and shipping.

America has some of the most innovative minds on the planet. It's a shame none of them are being utilized to protect our country.

Keith Kinnaird is a reporter and the Daily Bee's news editor.