cstone, your points on the two bombers originating outside the US are well taken. However the point still stands that the TSA has no record of ever stopping anything that I am aware of. And also it points out the fact that these two bombers WERE red flagged...so perhaps behavior detection and profiling does work and is easier than you make it sound. It was the follow up to the red flag that didn't work.

The TSA can and does make new regulations that passengers MUST comply with on an almost daily basis. They effectively answer to no one (We The People) and that, to me, is almost limitless power.

My point about pay is that the lack of good pay does attract bad employees. By the TSA's own requirements TSA officers must only be 18yo, a US citizen (or US National), speak English, pass a drug test and have a GED. If you meet these requirements then they will pay you $29k/year.

Yup, TSA only wants the best men and women to protect our security.

And while SFO's security is run by the airport's own Operations Security Division, it is under the guidance and in compliance with ALL TSA regulations. Therefor it is no different than the TSA.

The TSA sucks by any indicator.