I don't really have a problem with this. I hold no animosity towards the TSA agents that have to do the searching because they are doing their job. Are some a little overzealous? Yes, but it seems like it is due to a lack of communication upon the implimentation of these new security procedures. I don't think the TSA management has clearly communicated to their employees a specific set of guidlines for how intrusive the pat downs are supposed to be and how they should be properly conducted. In the security/force protection field, it seems that whenever a new policy or practice is introduced it takes a little bit to fine tune it to meet the satisfaction of the customer and also to provide the best security possible given the situation. The policy and/or practice seems good on paper but when it is put into practice is when you really see what needs to be improved. The way I look at it, if they don't do something and there is another terrorist attack on a plane or airport, everyone will blame the CIA, FBI, TSA, US Government; etc... and say that they didn't do enough to prevent it from happening. Nobody likes to be inconvenienced or touched by a stranger but unfortunately we live in a different world then say 20-30 years ago.
I also take issue with some of the news shows saying that these new TSA policies profile everyone and not the enemy or bad guys. Well in these wars that we are in now, who is the bad guy? You can never tell with dealing with Islamic terrorists or terrorists in general. Shit, when I was in Iraq they strapped explosives to some mentally retarded girls and blew them up in a crowd of people. One could look at a guy like Timothy McVay and by all appearances, he doesn't look like your stereotypical terrorist and you know the end result. The point is there is no specific "look" of a terrorist. It could be anyone. Two cents are cashed in.