Last night we returned to the International Terminal at LAX where our friends left for Malaysia.

To anyone who has witnessed the chaos and disorder of New Orleans and the ineffectual(!) response of the Department of Homeland Security, this airport will be no surprise. But this is the Western gateway to America for many visitors to America, and it simply is a national disgrace.

When one enters the terminal, there is no direction where to go. Not one single solitary sign directing the traveller. The procedure is to drag your suitcases to the bomb inspection area where you then wait for a shlub to pull your luggage over to the airline check-in. But how is the traveller who comes here for the first time directed? The answer is they have to figure it out for themselves!

For generations, the airline passenger understood that when you arrived at the airport, you first went to check-in. That situation is now history. You arrive and get your bag checked for explosives. But nobody tells you this!

If you can’t speak English, you’re out of luck. This terminal area has many visitors from Asia and Central America. They wander around like hurricane refugees in the Superdome without any person in charge!

This situation has been going on since September 12, 2001. Cannot Mayor Villaraigosa or the head of the FAA or Michael Chertoff of Homeland Security understand how poorly the terminal at LAX reflects upon America and the city of Los Angeles?

Not one sign to direct! Not one single sign!