It’s been busy around here so I haven’t been able to post. The TSA, however, has been busy with more puff posts on its blog. Once again, I totally support the mission of keeping commercial aviation in the United States safe. I do not support the methods used by the TSA or its disregard for the Constitution.
Essentially the TSA has put out two posts, the first is an attempt to cutely clear up some urban legends regarding what you can and cannot take into the sterile area. My problem here is not the content of the post, but the inconsistency used in enforcement at the checkpoint. It would be great if the effort used to write and approve said post was put into a memo directing local TSA personnel to enforce the rules in a way that does not confuse the most hardened traveller.
The second post regard what terrorists look like. This post attempts to make sense and its point that a terrorist can look and act western. The issue I have is the behavioral detection unit. Again, I feel the TSA should pour efforts into better X-Rays (not the strip search machines), better metal detectors, more dogs per airport, etc. If the TSA keeps potential weapons off of a plane, who flies doesn’t matter. Less attention on identification, behavior, etc. and more focus on prevention would be more akin to American values and likely much more effective.
Again, I hope the new administration puts its hooks in this agency and changes a lot about its culture.
Let’s be extremely precise. A Terrorist can BE a Westerner. This makes profiling potentially worthless.
Also by the TSA’s logic it should be illegal for criminals to travel via Airplane. No?
You are correct, in that it shouldn’t matter who travels. If security is effective then there should be no risk. If it is not, then there is. While our belongings can be stolen from the sterile areas we are NOT safe. Think about it. If stuff can go out it can come in too.
By: Brian Marten on May 26, 2009
at 8:46 am
You’re exactly right. The TSA needs to close the loop on so much before they worry about identifying everyone. The theft from supposedly clean areas is a great example. The biggest problem is that the TSA seems to think it can do what it does without oversight, debate, etc. in the name of security. If that culture and tone were changed, it would go a long way into making the organization much more logical and effective.
By: dylan555 on May 27, 2009
at 1:34 pm