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Category Archives: Aviation “in”Security

Foiled Again!

“There is a high likelihood that [the bomb] would have been detected had he boarded a flight in the United States.” Does Big Sis really have THAT much confidence in the “thousands standing around” at airport security checkpoints across the United States? Pretty bold statement, but I don’t believe she was in much a position to say otherwise. But a top law-enforcement official insisted, “They would not have gotten him” (source). We have no further information as to who this official was, based on the details of this case, as we know it, I agree this underwear bomb would have successfully made it through.

With the dog and pony show infringing on our rights at our nation’s airports, it won’t take much more for screening procedures to be revised again when it comes to how travelers are screened prior to entering a “sterile” area at the airport. I have yet to read a story in which TSA actually deterred or prevent an act of terrorism at an airport, but this latest attempt could have Big Sis rethinking procedures.

For metallic items, like guns and knives the old x-ray machines and now backscatter machines are acceptable. We have seen a few You Tube videos including a detailed example from Jonathan Corbett who runs TSA Out Of Our Pants. Unfortunately individuals like Richard Reid, the show bomber in 2001 and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the underwear bomber in 2009 both failed at their attempts, but this time a a CIA informant was the individual chosen for the suicide mission. Unfortunately, “current technology is not good enough to find nonmetallic explosive devices like the newest underwear bomb.” Thankfully the bomb is now in the hands of the U.S. authorities as we wait for further details to emerge.

Here is another example of how government agencies foiled a terrorist plot and NOT the TSA. Contrary to what Big Sis thinks and states on the record TSA screeners would not have have suspected this underwear bomb. “This bomb was put into the equivalent of briefs, so it was much tighter and form-fitting and harder to see” (source). How would an intrusive pat-down, using the back of your hands detect something sewn into a pair of briefs? The AIT machines would have been worthless in detecting this. “The only surefire way to detect nonmetallic explosive devices is using bomb-sniffing dogs, but that’s impractical at crowded airports.”

So score another victory for our alphabet agency, the CIA. As for the TSA, it’s time to review current procedures. Terrorists groups, like Al Qaeda are continuing to revise and improve their bomb making techniques and looking at delivery systems. This time, the U.S. dodged a bullet. What about next time? How long before travelers are submitting to further invasive touching or probing in order to make sure we are not a delivery device.

Security Concerns

I read many of the comments before jumping in an reading the entire story from the UK Sun regarding the lack of security surrounding London’s Olympic Park. The story, which is quickly turning into a scandal has images and video footage of a construction working transporting a fake bomb through security checkpoints and inside Olympic Park. This security seems no better than what I experienced when I worked at the airlines.

I have written about security concerns at airports the past, how easy it was to bypass security checkpoints in LAX and SFO, when it was “mandatory” (yet not enforced) as an airline employee to go through a security checkpoint, adhering to the SAME rules and regulations as an air traveler. Now the Olympics are 82 days away and with the amount of money spent (£1billion) for security and precautions in place we see this major breach, including an 11-mile long electrified fence that cost £80million.

Fingers will most likely be pointed at the individuals in place providing security at checkpoints. Much like TSA agents, these people aren’t trained well enough to provide real security, especially to an event such as the Olympics, which will be a high profile event.

“An already-vetted worker could bring in materials for a deadly suicide bomb mission. The loophole exposed by us shows just how easily that could happen” (source). This same loophole existed at the airlines, even being gone for nearly 6 years I don’t believe it has been improved. Here is just one story I wrote in 2006 while it centers more around the vulnerability of air freight facilities and accepting material from “known shippers” I did elude to the fact I could enter the AOA (ramp) dressed in everyday clothes with a badge and not past through a security checkpoint.

The UK story says, “terror cells may use “clean skins” — people with no criminal or extremist links” when it comes to people operating knowingly or unknowingly when it comes to an operation. Never in 2 years at SFO and 9 years at LAX was I ever questioned while walking on the ramp. Who’s to say I didn’t have a device, much like the construction worker touring Olympic Park, just to prove a point that it can be done and concerns exist.

4 Years Later…

87 pages of complaints to the TSA! If that’s not bad enough, it has taken 4 years for these complaints to made public. In 2008 Michael Grabell filed an FOIA request for a list of complaints from travelers. Unfortunately the Government wasn’t in any hurry to get him a response (I am sure they will cite “security concerns”). An FOIA is a process that usually takes a month or so took a bit longer, 4 years longer, but the results are not all that surprising. This is the basis of TSA Reveals Passenger Complaints, an article on ProPublica.org.

The list compiled from the FOIA request is now 4 years old, but the complaints are the nothing new from air travelers. Many of the complaints deal with concern over a name on the no fly watch list, questions regarding valid identification, items removed or allegedly stolen and travelers subjected to abusive treatment by TSA employees. As I said, nothing we haven’t heard or read about in the mainstream media, some brought to the forefront thanks in part to video.

Is the TSA really that backlogged on complaints they could not respond quicker to this inquiry? It wouldn’t come as any surprise if they are as more and more travelers file some sort of complaint because of their travel experience, many of which happen at the security checkpoints. “Lorie Dankers provided a statement pointing out that the agency has received an average of more than 800 requests annually over the past four years. Then the TSA apologized” (source). Sorry doesn’t cut it. Answers do.

Regardless of what happens, the TSA has gained too much power to man security checkpoint since it’s inception. As I wrote a few days ago, this department needs to be disbanded and private companies should be put back in place. Regardless of what group is “providing security” and I use that term very loosely, it really won’t matter. Neither the government or private security provide any real deterrent when it comes to terrorist. In my opinion they are solely window dressing. The intrusive pat-downs are unnecessary and are a violation of our Fourth Amendment.

ABOLISH THE TSA!

Will having a U.S. Senator backing the cause really provide enough clout to rid American airports of the TSA? As reports by Alex Jones, “Senator Rand Paul has issued a press release in which he vows to lead the charge to “end the TSA” and put a stop to the needless and humiliating groping of toddlers and grandmothers” (source). This fueled by Rand Paul after he was detained by TSA for pat down after going through a scanner.

Recent legislation now allows airports to “opt out” of the Federal program and use private companies to stand watch at security checkpoints. I don’t believe private security companies will be any different than the current TSA. Both groups are not qualified to provide security. Neither group has the level of training or background requirements to provide any real security. Any incident at a security checkpoint and the local police will be called in. So in the end, does it really matter if the Feds continue their invasive pat-downs and backscatter screening machines?

I applaud Rand Paul for taking up this cause, but I see no way in hell this piece of legislation would be passed. There are far too many involved with big money contracts now in place to just abolish the TSA and give away the police state to private companies. Yet the weekly horror stories that come out of TSA checkpoints are getting to the point of unbelievable. For some, not flying is not an option. Yet every week the list of inappropriate conduct at a checkpoint makes the headlines. This time around with the backing of a U.S. Senator will it really turn out any different?

TSA Busted Again

It always feels good to bring another story to light perpetrated by the TSA, who continues to illegally violate our Fourth Amendment right. This time it’s another seedy TSA baggage inspector in the spotlight after acts of impropriety. It seems Clayton Dovel was arrested on Feb 1 and suspended by the TSA after being “indicted in the theft of Apple iPads from luggage over eight months” as reported in the Star-Telegram. Are individuals like TSA agents/inspectors really that stupid when it comes to electronic devices? Are none of these folks aware that this devices can be tracked? A quick Gibiru search brings up some free apps from the Apple Store.

Now working for the airlines for 12 years I was never directly involved with theft while working as a ramp serviceman. I did witness bags being opened or searched through by other employees. I even heard of a story of a few ramp servicemen who worked for air freight that were trying to steal large electronic devices. Another set were brought up on federal charges for steal of U.S. Mail. I might be getting off the topic here, but theft and searching though bags does happen to luggage.

As for the TSA this is just another in a long series of wrongdoings that further begs the question, of why we need the TSA. I have said from the beginning, this is nothing more than a facade, window dressing if you like to make all outward appearance that the U.S. is now safer with the government running security checkpoints. It’s not! Remember this is the same government that has been at the root of many conspiracies through out history, including the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the assassination of JFK in 1962, the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964 and Watergate, in 1972-1974. I won’t bother including 9-11, which I believe was perpetrated by the U.S. Government.

Yet these incident and invasion of our rights will continue to happen whenever air travel is included. Unfortunately with the government’s power grab, the TSA is only on the receiving end of more power, as roadway, waterways and railways are now subject to unlawful search and seizure by the U.S. Goverment. News has already come to light about Big Sis and her perjury to Congress or the fact she lied in 2010 regarding the “safe” use of the AIT machines at airport security checkpoints.