As far as video at international terminals go, I can see one from where I’m sitting in San Diego Int’l Airport. I would love to credit the government (and well-developed international nanny governments) for being superior in observation and keeping video records, but if Amsterdam Closed-Circuit TV is as sparse as San Diego, it would be expected for them to occasionally, if not often miss someone boarding an aircraft. Having missed such a thing might also be good cause for a “cover up”, most governments being slow to admit faults and mistakes in security, not wanting to give the impression that terrorists remain unwatched in an airport as much as the concerned citizen might wish. I hope you would also grant the possibility that there simply might not be video for this.

I still want my pen knife, dammit!

You have greatly missed the main point. The entire first paragraph is just listing hullabaloo and clearly there is hullabaloo around Haskell’s story. The main point is that amidst the hullabaloo no one is asking or answering: How will changing US laws and screening change the Dutch way of doing things?

This comments section demonstrates my point nicely.

Granting the video, how would that disprove Haskell’s claims? The myth has already been created, and like WMDs being in Iraq, there will be those who will believe that Mutallab got onto the plane without a passport, regardless of the evidence against it.

All I want is to be able to carry my pen knife again. Not having a little knife should be considered a crime against man kind.

As far as my mention of possible conspiracy, I was merely stating fact. Either we have idiots guarding the safety of our country or someone let this through on purpose. Take your pick. If you go with idiots, fine. If you go with on purpose, terrific. I made no pretension to special knowledge either way. And either way we are in deep crap.

Just as I might give you the impression that I watch too much of The Daily Show and Colbert Reports (along with reading to much liberal punditry), with this post you give me the impression that you might read too much of the government conspiracy theorist shenanigans (not that they can’t be right).

As for the source you do not mention, I think Kurt Haskell’s testimony is about as reliable as the average woman’s testimony of her weight, or the average man’s testimony of his height or… whatever. Some people will remember what they want to and the human mind is perfectly capable of creating its own reality, just ask someone having a psychotic episode, sleep walking (especially someone who experiences night terrors), and etc.

So, I think that he thinks he is telling the truth, but I am very skeptical of his claim. I would be very surprised if the poor fellow was not deluding himself unintentionally.