It is possible that full body scanners could be dangerous, particularly for frequent flyers; they may not even be particularly effective in detecting explosives. And no-body wants to be groped by airport security staff in a pat-down.

There is one exception, though: Canadian Liberal Leader, Michael Ignatieff, has declared, in a statement that, had George Bush said it, would be a headline in every tabloid in the Western World:

“If you’re in my business, you live in an airport. So I have people touching my private parts all day long”

Mr. Ignatieff has not yet clarified whether he lives in airports just for this particular experience, or whether he has a less important reason.