How many air marshals share a name with a terrorist suspect? One would think, therefore, that this would be a reasonably easy problem to correct, no?

Names like Edward Kennedy (Ted), the Senior Senator from Mass, also the name of a IRA member (has the IRA ever hijacked a plane? One possible attempt in 1980). The no-fly list is a feel-good measure that does little.

[S]ome of the people who are supposed to be on the plane to stop the terrorists on the plane are getting mistaken for suspected terrorists and being kept from getting on the plane.

The Brits have a nice way of referring to a situation like this: Cockup

It is inconvenient, but it makes us all safer.

Where's the evidence for that?

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about.

Fascism.