Damned If You Do...

Washington (CNN) -- Don't like the way airport screeners are doing their job? You might not want to complain too much while standing in line.

Arrogant complaining about airport security is one indicator Transportation Security Administration officers consider when looking for possible criminals and terrorists, CNN has learned exclusively. And, when combined with other behavioral indicators, it could result in a traveler facing additional scrutiny.

CNN has obtained a list of roughly 70 "behavioral indicators" that TSA behavior detection officers use to identify potentially "high risk" passengers at the nation's airports.

Damned if you don't...

Among those behaviors is, of course, not complaining about airport security.  Because, in their infinite wisdom, professionals have determined that the terrorists might just  might have been trained to blend in, and therefore it is also considered a possible factor.  The TSA says their data is accurate, because one alleged terrorist complained about the airport and the 19 before him did not. I mean... I have a lot of adjectives for stupid (this job sort of requires it) but even I'm stumped as to how to label something with this many layers of idiocy.

Which leaves me wondering what the hell is wrong with these people?  Why not just watch people carefully and be on alert in case of emergency?  Also important, this is a massive violation of our civil rights, and sets the stage for even more trampling of our rights to search and detainment.  I agree that anything shipped on public transit is subject to scrutiny.  However, the TSA has had multiple legitimate complaints about how they treat passengers.

"Expressing your contempt about airport procedures -- that's a First Amendment-protected right," said Michael German, a former FBI agent who now works as legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "We all have the right to express our views, and particularly in a situation where the government is demanding the ability to search you."

"It's circular reasoning where, you know, I'm going to ask someone to surrender their rights; if they refuse, that's evidence that I need to take their rights away from them. And it's simply inappropriate," he said.

We need to nip this stupidity in the bud now, before it starts an upswing in stupidity outbreaks across the nation.  If criticizing loudly is considered an indicator of potential terrorist behaviors, I'm screwed.