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Since you complain about the 1% search rate, do you suggest that police increase the number of searches? It seems like you should be happy about this low search rate.

The method they are using is one of high frequency, low volume random searches. The idea is that at any time you could be searched, and you don't know when or where that could be. For example, we had this policy in place in my school district, and during the 12 years I was a student there I was only searched twice. It was still enough of a deterrent to keep me from bringing any contraband to school. I'm sure this method will miss some things, but its a lot more cost effective and less invasive than searching all subway riders (it would be impossible to search everyone), and it's better than doing nothing. There are probably not enough officers or dollars in their budget to search more than 1% of riders. Perhaps if money and manpower was shifted away from the drug war this could be remedied.

As for Richard Clark's expertise, he probably has a lot more experience than most on dealing with terrorism & safety in it's face. While it may be easy to look at the surface of this issue and declare that he is just another goverment hack, I think you discount him too much. It may sound good for your anti-establishment soap-boxing, but when dealing with the issue of life and death and preventing another terror attack (which will occur eventually) I will leave it to the experts.