Are airport body scanners effective?

This is all a move towards control. Body scanners were introduced last year and the public kicked up. Now brand new year 2010 and what's the first words out of Gordys mouth "The threat of terrorism is real". They wanted these scanners all along and they are and were quite capable of constructing an incident in which made us change our minds about these things. It's all a facade and a route towards the final stage of micro chipping every human on this planet. Yes laugh, but we all laughed at ID cards once. We laughed when told the world was round. The real world IS NOT THE ONE WE ARE LEAD TO BELIEVE TO BE TRUE! Government "string pullers" want control over us, why do you think this is now called "The Big Brother State", and it'll get worse. 9/11 perfect example. Terrorism does exist YES. But who trains the bombers etc and the real reasons are far far from the fabrical stories we are fed from the controlled media.

Being a frequent flyer, I hate body scanners so much but I doubt that they are going to go away any time soon. As long as terrorism is still perceived to be a threat, they're going to stay. There has been talk about suing the government because it infringes on the 4th amendment. Get used to it or don't fly.

Effective at what? They are very effective at detecting objects carried by people that pass though them. As YOU point out, the actual scanners are not the real issue, it is the entire screening process. I prefer the MINDSET used in PASSENGER screening by Israel. They basically don't care WHAT you take on they plane. They care WHO gets on the plane. They look at your luggage to help evaluate the PERSON carrying it. It is the PERSON, not the luggage, that is allowed or not allowed.

Nemo: NO ONE said all muslims are terrorists. Someone DID state that making an exception for ANY religion would permit terrorists to CLAIM that religion to exploit the exception. While the majority of muslims are not terrorists, the majority of terrorists claim to be muslim.

It's irrelevant right now as to who objects or not. The fact that the terrorist got through a scanner with bomb making materials in his underwear showed that the scanners couldn't detect it and they currently have no way of dealing with this problem. People from all countries and religions are objecting to the scanners and they're ridiculously expense so only a few airports even have them.

The scanners are usually very effective and efficient, it's with the operators the problem lies. It is very difficult to concentrate on boring and sedentary work unless you have a strong motivation. As for individuals using their race or religion to object the answer is simply if you don't want to be security screened your not travelling, end of story.

Anyone can opt out of airport x-ray scanning in the UK at the moment.

Well, considering a terror attack on a United States bound passenger flight was narrowly averted (Only because the bomber was an idiot) I'd say body scanners arent worth sh$%!

i'm not sure about " effective" but, they completely disregard privacy . you might as well go in to the back room naked. They can see Everything, I Mean EVERYTHING. so if you mean effective by meaning of seeing some guys dick.. then sure. But, if you mean effective as in the airport guards can find things such as knives or bombs, thats debatable.

P.S. For you ignorant people out there who thing that all Muslims are terrorist, you should got jump in a ditch, the world world be a much better place without that ignorance. BTW, I'm NOT Muslim so don't thing I'm some bitter Islamic guy.

it loses all effectiveness if it isnt enforced, everybody muslim jew or gentile should be made to go through it. if youve nothing to hide then nobody should mind, but its a cert one certain religion will drag up some pseudu religious bullshit within human rights to make sure they don't have to do it. Refusing to go through the scanners means guilt. a nun isnt going to refuse 10 seconds later shes through security a muslim in a bukrah refusing, ok love strip! it should be that simple. make life easier for yourself or suffer the indignity of a strip search

Ummm excuse me, but this fellow didn't even have baggage...only a carry on ,on an International flight...seems rather suspicious to me. We let these terrorists into this country..yes our US Government lets suspected terrorists into our country..When have you ever seen one of their passenger airliners attempted to be blow up??..Umm..How bout NEVER!!!...Gee now wouldn't that be a sudden turn of events..We need to stop letting these Islamic /Muslim extremists into The United States...