Abroad bag checking at airports. Is it really working?

I just recently travel to a foreign country. On my way back I was observing the airport screeners at the gate checking carry on baggage, and it seemed to me that it was just for show. The person never actually looked at the bottom of the bag, just a little on top if any. Then I had to board that plane back to the US. Shold we have airlines that come here adhere to strict rules of screenen and demand they get equipment adequate to do the job?, can we?

yes, it is important that we a a nation demand some reposnsibility from others as to our security. We can't affor another 911, so the answer is yes,
Political issues may come to bear, but the thing is we only react after the damage is done.
God helps us all.

If you meant effective, then at some point it is. Meaning the mere "show" could ward off potential no-good-makers. Ofcourse if it was not a show and it is for real, then it would be more effective.

On the demands, there are some countries where the US gov't can demand. But technically the US gov't cannot impose on sovereign countries, so if where you came from is a real sovereign country then you could only hope they do...