Editorial: Cosmetic changes won’t do

Monday, Nov. 12, 2001 | 8:40 a.m.

On Friday President Bush announced that he would increase the number of National Guard troops patrolling airports. The president also ordered undercover surveys of security checkpoints in airports. The holiday season soon will get under way, and Bush hopes these steps will reassure an anxious nation that it is safe to fly.

The problem with the president's approach is that it still doesn't address the core issue, which is the lack of training and low wages that airport security screeners currently receive as employees of private companies. That situation isn't going to change because of the addition of troops and unannounced inspections by regulators.

The same day that the president made his announcement, the Sun ran a New York Times story that painted a devastating portrait of Argenbright Security, the nation's largest airport-security company that also runs security at McCarran International Airport. The Times story noted that government officials discovered that in the past year Argenbright has continued to employ airport security screeners with criminal backgrounds. The government also has found violations of FAA regulations at a number of airports where Argenbright operates, including at McCarran. Argenbright has been criticized for its security breaches as well, including the most recent at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago where a man got past a security checkpoint with knives, a stun gun and pepper spray.

If the president really wants to calm the nerves of travelers and get them flying again, he needs to move beyond cosmetic changes. Improving airport security only will occur when the president and his allies in the House put safety over profits and convenience. That day will happen when all 28,000 airport security personnel are employees of the federal government, which will place a premium on training and decent wages that will lure the best qualified individuals for these important jobs.