The Transportation Security Agency today unveiled new airport security screening procedures to take effect December 22, 2005, just in time for your holiday flight.

“It is paramount to the security of our aviation system that terrorists not be able to know with certainty what screening procedures they will encounter at airports around the nation,” TSA Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley said in a news release. “By incorporating unpredictability into our procedures and eliminating [prohibitions on] low-threat items, we can better focus our efforts on stopping individuals that wish to do us harm.”

TSA will give greater focus to detecting explosives and additional secondary screenings of passengers who may be a potential security risk. In addition, several types of items will no longer be prohibited. Among them are scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches.

Yes, people have been talking about this for several days, after someone in the Department of Homeland Security leaked it to the press. However, I’ve been talking about it for several months, and I prefer not to act on speculation and unverified statements when I can avoid it, which is why you haven’t seen it here until now.

Yes, now you can bring your pocket sewing kit onboard, and if a terrorist does board your flight and try to take over the plane, you can now fight back more effectively. Perhaps this is why flight attendants are standing with the terrorists in opposing this change.

“Under no circumstance should potentially dangerous weapons be allowed onboard an aircraft,” Patricia Friend, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International president, told FOX News.

Terrorists oppose the change because passengers will be able to more effectively block their hijacking plans and cause their missions to fail, jeopardizing their trip to Paradise and their 72 virgins.