Given the boot

After the shoe bomber Richard Reid was foiled, airports around the world initiated inspections of the footwear of passengers, much to the chagrin of those passing through the examinations.  American officials used to joke when frustration was aired “At least he didn’t hide it in his underwear.”  Now Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has exploded that quip (thankfully, the only thing he did blow up) by attempting to do just that.  Under the sobriquet of the ‘Underpants Bomber’, he attempted to blow up an aeroplane over Detroit on Christmas Day (to paraphrase Blofeld in Diamonds are Forever, if had been Detroit, they wouldn’t notice for years).  His actions and his incompetence though have been a boon for the convenience of air travellers with airports forced to splash out on full body scanners than pester people to take off their shoes again.  It was always the way to the future.