Just Plane Stupid

OK, one more post on the subject of airlines: Michelle Malkin reports in her syndicated column that the guy in charge of the federal air marshals is actually putting them--and us--in danger by requiring them to adhere to a stiff, business-formal dress code which makes them stand out from other passengers:

No idiot would send his men on a covert mission wearing clothes that would so blatantly give them away, right?

Wrong. Meet Federal Air Marshal Service Director Thomas Quinn. The man in charge of our in-flight cops, who are supposed to be spying secretly on would-be terrorist hijackers, refuses to allow his employees to dress undercover. Quinn insists that air marshals abide by military-style grooming standards and a rigid business dress policy regardless of weather, time of year or seating arrangement. He wants them to look PROFESSIONAL.

That means collared shirts and sports coats -- even if a pair of marshals is traveling in coach from Los Angeles to Orlando.

Read the whole thing.

I've never been a big fan of making everyone conform to the business world in terms of attire in the first place (there's at least one good post in me on school dress codes that will likely be written once I'm in the proper ornery mood), but causing the marshals--who are supposed to keep our flights safe-- to stick out like sore thumbs endangers everyone. I agree with Malkin, this guy needs a pink slip--holiday week or not, and even if part of the recently-passed intelligence reform bill would put a stop to this practice. One more unemployed mindless bureaucrat is usually a good thing.

OK, I think that's probably all from me about airplanes for a while.