Technology increases security?

With all the flak the TSA's been getting about it's increased secondary screening pat down procedures & full image body scans - it's no wonder folks are mad as hell.

There are differing approaches for dealing with the same problem - old school vs new school. And before you all get on the bandwagon for the El Al method - think again about the cost & time involved.

Yes, the TSA can be credited with stopping threats at checkpoints; week at a glance:
NOV 08 - NOV 14
6 artfully concealed prohibited items found at checkpoints,
11 firearms found at checkpoints,
6 passengers were arrested after investigations of suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents;

And while they pat themselves on the back & tell you how well they're doing (the numbers above do indicate a certain level of danger) how many of the above didn't they detect? How many artfully concealed prohibited items, how many firearms, how many travelers w/fraudulent documents did they let through and traveled without incident? Impossible to tell.

They also don't do themselves any good with knuckleheads of their own not behaving. Lest you think this is limited to Newark, look at DTW, LAX, MIA, PHL, etc.

So I've got to wonder if through the Patriot Act, a grandiose new government agency, increased focus on shared intelligence, more beat feet, & the ever increasing wonder toys that get deployed at our airports; is the intelligence & security community being reactive to the threat as they perceive it OR are they thinking proactively to end whatever vulnerabilities still exist OR is it a lot of fluff designed to look impressive but not accomplish much?

I've got my suspicions, what say you?