Via Fox Nation, here’s the best idea that the richest, most technologically advanced country in the history of the world can come up with to guard against the slight — but real — risk of children being used as mules for weapons. And believe it or not, it could have been worse. From an item on the TSA Blog posted last November:

Myth: All children will receive pat-downs.
Fact: TSA officers are trained to work with parents to ensure a respectful screening process for the entire family, while providing the best possible security for all travelers. Children 12 years old and under who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down.

It doesn’t look real “modified,” frankly. But that’s the bad news. The good news is that the feds finally figured out that it’s better to stop people affiliated with terrorist groups from boarding a plane in the first place than to let ’em board and question them when the plane lands. Great to hear, coming just … 10 years after 9/11. Hopefully by the 20th we’ll have figured out a way to check pre-schoolers for bombs without patting down their crotches.