I think this article isn't talking about random vs. profiled (which is what the mit paper is about), but random vs. 100% (where there 100% has been analyzed carefully to be sufficient to detect large bombs, etc.).
He was hand-waving at the end about the 100% but that's not a solution. They are doing it randomly because 100% is simply not possible. My point was that in a situation where 100% is not possible, as in real life, any system is potentially worse than randomness.
Maybe this just means we need to come up with screening mechanisms that can be applied to 100%, but given the current capabilities, choosing random screening is better than profiling.
Maybe this just means we need to come up with screening mechanisms that can be applied to 100%, but given the current capabilities, choosing random screening is better than profiling.