The incompetent morons at the Department of Homeland Security took a month and a half to figure out that, after British authorities announced a foiled terrorist plot August 10 which involved blowing up airliners with liquid explosives, that the threat is from liquid explosives, not from liquids.

On Monday the Transportation Security Administration announced a loosening of restrictions on liquids and gels in carry-on baggage, to take effect Tuesday.

After the plot was disrupted, Homeland Security officials announced a nearly total ban on liquids and gels in carry-on baggage, and adjusted the rules slightly three days later, a ban which air passengers grudgingly accepted at first, but later came to despise and openly flout.

The new regulations, quietly published Monday on TSA’s web site, explicitly allow up to three ounces of liquids and gels in their original packaging, all placed into a one quart clear plastic bag. In addition, liquids purchased inside the secure area can now be carried aboard aircraft.

Though liquid explosives are “an ongoing part of the terrorist playbook and must be dealt with, we now know enough to say that a total ban is no longer needed from a security point of view,” Edmund S. “Kip” Hawley, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said at the news conference today. . . .

Hawley called the relaxation of rules “a common sense approach” that will “make it a little easier” for passengers. . . .

“If you don’t need to bring on these small amounts of liquids . . . please feel free to keep packing your liquids, aerosols and gels in checked baggage,” Hawley said at the news conference. “You will get through the security with less stops. It’s your call: Do I want to bring with me the baggie or do I want to check a bag and breeze on through?” — Washington Post

TSA even helpfully provided videos of the allowed items, how to pack them, and what to expect at airport security checkpoints. As you might expect, they’re pretty stupid, and they show TSA screeners being nice, courteous and helpful, which is something any air traveler will tell you is a rare event. I’ve included the videos below, as most people have never seen a nice, courteous, helpful TSA screener.

According to its web site, TSA is also implementing security measures, including “more random screening of employees, additional canine patrols, stronger air cargo security measures, more rigorous identity verification, deploying more trained security officers in bomb appraisal, and screening by observation technique” to complement the airport security screening theater and maybe, just maybe, provide some real security.

Watch video of how to pack allowable liquid and gel items.

Watch video of female business traveler liquids screening. (See if you can spot the blatantly sexist overtones in this video.)

Watch video of male business traveler liquids screening.

Watch video of traveling with an infant liquids screening.

Watch video of traveling with liquid medication screening.

Bonus points for anyone who can identify the airport in which these videos were filmed, extra bonus points if you know the actual screeners shown, and a LOT of extra bonus points if you are one of the screeners and comment here about your experience filming these videos.