David A. Graham
With so few effective tactics for preventing low-tech attacks, the major consolation is that these measures seem to have driven attackers away from more lethal explosive devices, which are more easily detected, and toward primitive incendiary devices, which are more likely to fail and less deadly.
This is good news indeed. A month ago I was coming back from Canada with a couple of friends at the Major crossing on I5 into Washington. One of my friends had under went medical testing 4 days prior, that require a radioactive isotope to be injected into his blood stream. Within 30 seconds of getting into the area where the explosives detectors are housed there was an Customs Agent out with a Geiger counter. We were stopped brought inside, my friend was questioned and they verified the medical testing. Took us an extra 15 minutes, but was still one of the most impressive things I have ever seen.