those aren't the rules today

Here's another one of those commonplace TSA horror-stories, with an added twise. This one features the TSA's greatest nemesis: breast milk. Short version: a mother would prefer her child's milk not be irradiated. The TSA very rationally and considerately has rules and procedures for dealing such eventualities. And, as usual, these rules promptly break down once somebody's in line.

This particular traveler made the additional mistake of actually pointing out that the TSA didn't know its own rules. I'm a 'dirty stinking hippy-liberal', and even I know better than that.

...I then begged him to read the TSA rules I had printed out. He read the first form which stated that medical liquids can have alternate screening (no x-ray). He was quick to say “well this isn’t a medical liquid!” So I had him read the second form which says breast milk is to be treated like a medical liquid. He then says, “well, not today.”

You see how this works. The Rules are the Rules. They are Vitally Important for our Safety and to fight Terrorism. Except until the TSA guy, when confronted with the Rules, decides the Rules are not the Rules anymore. At least, not for You. Because You annoy him. His arbitrary and ill-informed authority is the only real rule.

If you make the TSA guy look stupid, then the Terrorists win.