Govt investigation: TSA security theater doesn't work.

[BogWalker]

First time flying I walked through the scanner with my shoes on right after they told everybody to take them off. Didn't matter because the guy manning the scanner was about to fall asleep anyways and was paying almost no attention to the screen. I knew right then and there security was a joke.

For background, this was like 3a.m. and the airport was almost empty.

 

[TRWXXA]

5% success rate? Good enough for government work I guess

And you can bet the 3 out of the 70 banned items that the blue-shirted child molesters did find probably appeared on the scanner screen as a large, firearm shaped mass that said "GUN" on it, or an explosive device that looked like this:



"TSA -- Keeping America safe from Wile E. Coyote and Boris Badenov since 2001."

More money and more employees will be the answer. Count on it.

The solution certainly will NOT be improving any kind of performance standards for TSA personnel, but a marked increase to the suffering and humilliation air travellers must endure. And that suffering will be expensive.

My idea of "transportation security":

TSA agent: "Are you carrying any weapons with you today, sir."
Traveller: "No, I am not."
TSA agent: " Then perhaps you would like to choose one of our loaners to take on your journey today."



Not only would a well-armed travelling population deter terrorism, but the co******er in the seat next to me might think twice about bogarting the armrest!

 

[Leadeye]

Meh, nothing new here. The "thousands standing around" federal jobs program.

 

[longbow]

Not shocked at all, I pointed out a serious flaw and they basically said FO in a nice TSA way. I could get a small gun on any plane any time.

 

[Woobie]

Most security is a show of force. Think about going to a pro sporting event and the security there. Is it really that secure? Sure they check your cooler and have a "no guns" sign, but would it really be that hard? I recently went to the museum at Pensacola NAS. They had a 100% ID check at the front door. The ID's were being checked by too very polite and professional young marines. They were E-1's. I seriously doubt they had any training about fake ID's, and probably didn't have any authority to do much. A show of force, that's all. The TSA is to make everyone feel safe about getting on that plane, and to make a would-be BG have second thoughts.

 

[pudly]

Most security is a show of force. Think about going to a pro sporting event and the security there. Is it really that secure? Sure they check your cooler and have a "no guns" sign, but would it really be that hard? I recently went to the museum at Pensacola NAS. They had a 100% ID check at the front door. The ID's were being checked by too very polite and professional young marines. They were E-1's. I seriously doubt they had any training about fake ID's, and probably didn't have any authority to do much. A show of force, that's all. The TSA is to make everyone feel safe about getting on that plane, and to make a would-be BG have second thoughts.

I can only half believe that. Since when does a show of force involve feeling up your crotch?

 

[poptab]

I can only half believe that. Since when does a show of force involve feeling up your crotch?

They are into domination too.

 

[EOD Guy]

Any armchair QBs have a better idea how to keep bad guys and crazies from doing stupid crap on aircraft...that would be acceptable in our society? How would you keep high concentration peroxides mixed with Tang from being used as an explosive and attempted in the UK? What about a copycat underwear or shoe bomber...how do you keep those from getting on a plane again? How would you screen thousands of passengers a day, wanting to go on vacation or business while they glare at you? Understand this article talks about tests designed and implemented by insiders that know procedural and equipment vulnerabilities...anywhere else it would be considered cheating.

So easy to sit back with a negative Nancy attitude and throw stones. I doubt anyone here could do better patting down hundreds of people, examining a thousand x-rays of stuffed oversized bags people drag through security because they're too cheap to pay airlines bag fees...and do this while listening to complaints from the people you're trying to keep safe.

 

[OakRiver]

So easy to sit back with a negative Nancy attitude and throw stones. I doubt anyone here could do better patting down hundreds of people, examining a thousand x-rays of stuffed oversized bags people drag through security because they're too cheap to pay airlines bag fees...and do this while listening to complaints from the people you're trying to keep safe.

Are they keeping us safe though? Can you point to any TSA success stories, because a failure rate of 95% given the budget and attempted improvements to the agency is astounding - especially as these tests didn't involve anything specialist like peroxides and Tang

 

[jamil]

Any armchair QBs have a better idea how to keep bad guys and crazies from doing stupid crap on aircraft...that would be acceptable in our society? How would you keep high concentration peroxides mixed with Tang from being used as an explosive and attempted in the UK? What about a copycat underwear or shoe bomber...how do you keep those from getting on a plane again? How would you screen thousands of passengers a day, wanting to go on vacation or business while they glare at you? Understand this article talks about tests designed and implemented by insiders that know procedural and equipment vulnerabilities...anywhere else it would be considered cheating.

So easy to sit back with a negative Nancy attitude and throw stones. I doubt anyone here could do better patting down hundreds of people, examining a thousand x-rays of stuffed oversized bags people drag through security because they're too cheap to pay airlines bag fees...and do this while listening to complaints from the people you're trying to keep safe.

Hey, for just a 5% success rate let's just get rid of the TSA alltogether. It's a huge inconvenience and expense to go through and it's just not worth it.

 

[Indynic]

Hey, for just a 5% success rate let's just get rid of the TSA alltogether. It's a huge inconvenience and expense to go through and it's just not worth it.

This is the talking point that EOD Guy is failing to see. The tremendous expense, as well as the violation of our rights is reason enough to do away with the TSA.

 

[KLB]

Any armchair QBs have a better idea how to keep bad guys and crazies from doing stupid crap on aircraft...that would be acceptable in our society? How would you keep high concentration peroxides mixed with Tang from being used as an explosive and attempted in the UK? What about a copycat underwear or shoe bomber...how do you keep those from getting on a plane again? How would you screen thousands of passengers a day, wanting to go on vacation or business while they glare at you? Understand this article talks about tests designed and implemented by insiders that know procedural and equipment vulnerabilities...anywhere else it would be considered cheating.

So easy to sit back with a negative Nancy attitude and throw stones. I doubt anyone here could do better patting down hundreds of people, examining a thousand x-rays of stuffed oversized bags people drag through security because they're too cheap to pay airlines bag fees...and do this while listening to complaints from the people you're trying to keep safe.

Sure, let the airlines do it themselves. They have a vested interest in keeping their planes safe, so let them. The cost gets put on those that actually travel and they suffer any repercussions if they fail.

 

[Woobie]

Sure, let the airlines do it themselves. They have a vested interest in keeping their planes safe, so let them. The cost gets put on those that actually travel and they suffer any repercussions if they fail.

Wait. Are you suggesting that we let companies set their own rules for their airplanes, their flights, their enployees, their customers and their business? Are you some kind of anarchist? Don't you know the moment we let a company do this planes will starting plunging out of the sky into elementary schools? We need the government to do this for us, because we're not grown up enough to handle it ourselves.

 

[CathyInBlue]

Bruce Schneier was right? Shocked.

IKR! That almost never happens.

Nothing to see here, folks! Move along! Move along! Pay no attention to the bomb behind the curtain!

Thing is, as a pessimist, I'm not surprised by the 95.7% of cases where the TSA screeners failed to identify the deadly thing in front of their scanners. I'm aghast at the 4.3% of the cases where they did correctly identify the threat.

 

[dirtybird]

Why not set up some kind of system like the handgun license? You can't fly unless you have a permit showing you've had a federal background check and cleared to do so. Anything is better than cavity searches and getting fondled every time I wanna enjoy a vacation

 

[chipbennett]

Any armchair QBs have a better idea how to keep bad guys and crazies from doing stupid crap on aircraft...that would be acceptable in our society? How would you keep high concentration peroxides mixed with Tang from being used as an explosive and attempted in the UK? What about a copycat underwear or shoe bomber...how do you keep those from getting on a plane again? How would you screen thousands of passengers a day, wanting to go on vacation or business while they glare at you? Understand this article talks about tests designed and implemented by insiders that know procedural and equipment vulnerabilities...anywhere else it would be considered cheating.

So easy to sit back with a negative Nancy attitude and throw stones. I doubt anyone here could do better patting down hundreds of people, examining a thousand x-rays of stuffed oversized bags people drag through security because they're too cheap to pay airlines bag fees...and do this while listening to complaints from the people you're trying to keep safe.

The Israelis do it better. Let's spend 1/10th of the money, and hire them. No terror attacks, and no need to sexually assault old women, the crippled, and pre-schoolers.

 

[mbills2223]

The Israelis do it better. Let's spend 1/10th of the money, and hire them. No terror attacks, and no need to sexually assault old women, the crippled, and pre-schoolers.

What is their system?

 

[jamil]

The Israelis do it better. Let's spend 1/10th of the money, and hire them. No terror attacks, and no need to sexually assault old women, the crippled, and pre-schoolers.

We wouldn't want to profile anyone now would we? We need to pretend that the little old lady traveling with her grand kids is just as likely to be hiding a bomb in her nethers as a full bearded Middle Eastern, turbin clad, guy. Demographics suck.

 

[caverjamie]

Why not set up some kind of system like the handgun license? You can't fly unless you have a permit showing you've had a federal background check and cleared to do so. Anything is better than cavity searches and getting fondled every time I wanna enjoy a vacation

I think that would not get much support here. It is an idea though - to expand on it even further, what if we had an optional federal "leave me alone" permit. It involved yearly background checks, FBI interviews with friends and relatives as they do for security clearances, pistol qualification to a federal law enforcement standard or whatever - but in exchange you could carry your gun anywhere, anytime, no TSA pre flight screenings, no traffic stop disarming, no worries! Not gonna happen...

 

[chipbennett]

What is their system?

The Israelis use psychological profiling. They read behaviors and body language, and it's pretty much 100% effective, as I understand it.

We wouldn't want to profile anyone now would we? We need to pretend that the little old lady traveling with her grand kids is just as likely to be hiding a bomb in her nethers as a full bearded Middle Eastern, turbin clad, guy. Demographics suck.

Israeli profiling isn't based on demographics, clothing, or facial hair. It's based on behavior and body language.