This is why TSA is money down a rat hole.

Your local cops do not know about this, DHS is just now realizing the
extent of the danger, and the TSA is OBVIOUSLY not on the ball (imagine
that). The government CANNOT keep you safe.

For the untrained civilian....

The TSA had nothing to do with allowing this person to fly. He boarded overseas and was inbound to the USA. Not under TSA jurisdiction or control.

This type of explosive PETN, has been known about for 5+ years. TSA officers are trained to detect this substance using what limited equipment is being provided to them.
I am a former TSA officer, my wife and brother are current officers. They undergo briefings and training constantly on this stuff. That is why you take off your shoes, are limited in the amount of liquids you carry, etc.

The TSA is doing a better job than the airline run security system ever did. The public does not hear about incidents occurring daily across our country.My wife has detected 2 unknown devices in Portland, that were detonated by the bomb squad. She has recieved several awards for these kind of things. My brother has found 5 handguns in carry-on luggage, I found at least that many. The airlines tried to override TSA detaining these individuals,stating that some were frequent flyers or traveling in fisrt class so therefore were exempt, but were overode themselves by law-enforcement.
TSA is under staffed and under funded. It was supposed to expire after 5 yrs and go back to airline control. Congress didn't go along with that idea, but they are still playing politics and not funding the system to provide the equipment and personell needed to do it right.

The airlines claim they pay for the TSA, no ,YOU do.
The added security fee the airline collects from you, goes to the gov't. The airlines claim it as an expense, they are just the tax collector getting an accounting benefit.

Scary fact:: After 9-11, the middle eastern company that owns many service companies operating in our nations airports, wanted to take over airport security, bringing their own people here and arming all officers with military style weapons, above the authority of the USA law enforcement. Congress almost said yes, but delayed opening the airports until a better plan, TSA, could be established.

TSA is the new and improved version of the private security that the airlines was offering. It incorporated all the changes and ideas that were being tested prior to 9-11, but were not implimented because the airline didn't want to inconvenience their passengers.

Case in point-- the 9-11 hijackers set off the metal detector but were not searched because the airline rep believed the terrorist had a medical implant, actually he had an isreali fighting knife taped to his back, several of them did. The majority had these knives and the composite style knife that are not detectable.Only a few had "box cutters".
TSA officers, some undercover, are trained to watch for these type of people, how they walk, hold themselves, what they are wearing. I spent 3 months undercover and detained, with LAW enforcement, people who turned out to have drugs on them, 1 guy had ammunition in his sock, his wife had a handgun that used the ammo in her diaper bag.

The steps taken now can be vastly improved to be more secure and efficient. It is not being done purely due to politics. Yes some of the TSA people are future Wal-mart greeters building up a gov't pension. They are slowly weeding these people out. Gov't red tape takes time to chew through.

When you travel, be aware of your fellow passengers, feel free to talk with the TSA officers, many of them are pretty cool and knowledgable, most feel the same as you, but their hands are tied.