"Teek" wrote in message
m...
" Bogart " wrote in message
ws.com...
On 1 Jan 2004 20:44:46 -0800, (Teek) wrote:

" Bogart " wrote in message
ws.com...

Let me guess, you're rap's resident nutcase? I didn't say SM's feel
they are more likely to be seen as a " threat than as an aid. ".
I'm telling you how they feel. It's from personal experience and
personal contact. Not every one is an amateur detective.

So what are you saying, then? That they feel like they are not needed
and feel like they aren't doing much good?

SM's I've talked with have expressed some genuine concerns about being
jumped by passengers in certain situations. That is all. They will
do their jobs and will do a good job, regardless of the fact _I_ don't
think they are necessary on domestic US flights.

Fair enough. No one can predict or imagine all possible situations
and scenarios, and I'm confident the air marshals can think of a few
that I can't. Many factors come in to play in the use of air
marshals; political, strategic, tactical, etc. Your sky marshals seem
to be concerned with the tactical aspect of *certain* situations that
either they don't want to tell you about, or you don't want to blab it
all over the internet. No matter. They are well-trained and come
from a diverse cross-section of society, with differing opinions and
beliefs. That comes with any organization or group that doesn't
discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, or political
beliefs. This is as it should be. It also means I can't rule out the
marshals you've talked to are in the minority in their concerns, or if
it is fairly common.

Though I don't know a lot of the details of their training, it lasts
for about three months and their firearms course is rather
challenging. I don't think they sit around very much playing cards
and drinking beer during this time. The concerns should be addressed
in training. And since I haven't been through it, I can't say for
sure what the curriculum is.

I think they are necessary on domestic flights, and on certain
overseas flights coming into the U.S. Perhaps they don't need to be
on every flight, but they need to be on enough of them to possibly
prevent another hijacking.


They train for the eventualities brought up.

-*MORT*-