I think this highly depends on where you are. I haven't flown to the US since 2000, so I can't speak for how it's there, but I fly a lot in Asia and Europebamd the only major difference is that the security check is a bit stricter (but not by very much, you have to take the laptop out of the bag these days, but that's about it).

I remember seeing armed soldiers at the airport in Paris back in the 90's so that's nothing new really.