Flying Blind is the story of what happens when Michael Smerconish, a Philadelphia attorney turned talk show host and newspaper columnist, discovers the intrusion of political correctness into airline security.  It all begins when he checks in at the airport for a trip to Florida with his family.  Strangely, his eight-year-old son is randomly selected for additional screening, and the ticket agent objects.  Mr. Smerconish handles the situation quite easily by substituting himself, not once but twice.  The same thing happened on the return flight from Florida. 

This got him thinking, but it was nothing compared to his reaction to questions by former Navy Secretary John Lehman during the 9/11 Commission hearings.  According to Lehman, airlines are subject to censure if they question more than two Arab males (or, apparently two of any other specific group) on any given flight.  Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor, who was asked about this practice, professed no knowledge of the situation.  Thus begins Mr. Smerconish’s entry into the world of investigative journalism, where he meets up with, among other people, John Lehman, Senators Arlen Specter and John McCain, and Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines.  Along the way he is treated to a large number of email notes from his listeners about the indignities they have experienced with airport security, while he researches the laws concerning airline security and the rights of air carriers to control who may be their passengers.  It all ends when, after much maneuvering, Mr. Smerconish is able to testify before a Senate committee about his findings.  

Despite the opportunity to bring his information to this level of the government, we are left with the disturbing impression that there is still work to be done, and even if the information he provided is frightening, nothing much is being done about it.  It is a work in progress without a conclusion.  It is entertaining in parts, but unfortunately, has limited subject matter, making it repetitive at times.  Thus it is better suited for use as a reference than a source of entertaining information. 

There is also an important weakness in the author’s treatment of where he lays the blame for the PC problem, namely Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.  According to Smerconish, Mr. Mineta was a resident of one of the World War II era relocation camps set up following the Pearl Harbor attack of December 1941, and this has warped his thinking such that he is unwilling to accept the idea that profiling potential terrorists is proper during a time of war.  While he was unable to interview Mineta, Smerconish does an excellent job of creating a quasi-interview by interposing his comments into one of Mineta’s speeches.  But somehow he missed out on the exposition by his friend (see page 35) Michelle Malkin about how the World War II relocation involved Germans and Italians, as well as Japanese.  Still, this does not detract from his conclusion that Mineta is responsible, and not the right man for the job under present circumstances. 

Included with the book is a CD containing recordings of various interviews from the author’s radio program, and an appendix of important documents regarding the investigation and events relating to certain airlines for taking extra security measures. 

All told, this is a well-researched work, documenting some highly important facts about which everyone should know.   It is unfortunate that it appears unfinished because there is no official disposition.  His recommendations are excellent, and should be put into effect.  Whether they will is anyone’s guess.  It would be nice to finally wrap everything up into a nice neat package, but it does not happen. 

All of the author’s profits from the sale of Flying Blind are to be donated to 9/11 charities, including his favorite, a memorial garden in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Details may be found at http://9-11memorialgarden.org. 

Flying Blind is available on Amazon.com.

Steven Laib is a practicing attorney.

Email Steven Laib

Send this Article to a Friend