http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577281483630937016.html

A comment as posted on FlyerTalk:
The article includes this lovely quote from the Dear Administrator:

"We can reduce the size of the haystack when we are looking for that one-in-a-billion terrorist," said TSA Administrator John Pistole.

Now, since there are seven billion people on the earth, there are only seven terrorists on the entire planet.

It seems to me that Pistole is squandering a lot of resources by only looking for those seven people at US airports.



Me: All this for seven terrorists? :|

Bahaha!!!
 

OMMFGGG...THIS IS FRIGGIN' HILARIOUS!!!! I literally was laughing out loud!!! LOVE IT!

I feel much safer now..../temporarily end sarcasm

TSA screener busted while in uniform. Now I feel safer?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/uniformed_tsa_screener_busted_in_RuJhwOv5tdqOWIgao 5GMkI

No comment except ICK!

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/crime_checker/baltimore_county_crime/former-tsa-agent-from-baltimore-county-indicted-on-federal-porn-charges#ixzz1pVwGQjPk

This video is going viral. Also others that include people with disabilities, using canes and the elderly. I'm sure these TSA agents are just doing their job how they are supposed to no matter who the traveler is. It is unfortunate however when this happens to these individuals especially.

In Orlando, travelers now older than 75 will be able to keep their shoes and light jackets on and avoid pat downs.

What do you all think? Do we still need pat downs and who warrants them?
How is it determined who could be a threat?

Again, working in security I have seen some people fly through the line while others may get a second look, a wand, or a pat down. Knowing this I like to treat everyone the same. If you let one person through with their child's meds and bottle filled with liquid you have to do it for all. . just my thought.

I also heard some airports may start to look at private security companies to do security instead of TSA..

I don't feel pat downs are warranted. I am unaware of any terrorists discovered by TSA in the ten years using any of their security features.

One could say the pat downs are a deterrent to terrorists, but if deterrents worked we wouldn't have jails full of murderers, rapist, abusers, drug users and pushers, drunk drivers, etc.

Planes are now equipped with reinforced doors to the cockpit to prevent unauthorized entry and passengers have shown they will not allow anyone to disrupt flights.

All of this fear over something that will probably never happen again. Let's put our resources into places that can really help. Let's feed the hungry with the billions of dollars spent on TSA. Or supplement tuition for those in college. Or help people that are losing their homes in this economy.

/end of rant

Is this a TSA success story? I don't think so. It appears the man had no intention of using the firearms for anything nefarious or he would have 1) gone off (pulled his gun) in the airport or 2) attempted to hide the firearms.

Also note, according to other articles, the pat down where his holstered gun was found, was not required until the firearms were discovered in his carry on. Does this mean the gun he carried on his person wasn't found in the backscatter screening? The walk through metal detector would have beeped for a gun.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2012/03/23/20120323phoenix-passenger-guns-found-sacramento-airport.html

Chancie:

Thank you for your comment. My guess is this was a cry for help in the way attempted suicide is. He had to have known he would be stopped from carrying guns on the plane but he attempted it anyway. We will probably never know his thinking but his resulting actions upon being discovered did not indicate (to me) ill intent.

I agree with you about the questionable rights to "have intimate access" to our bodies. I seldom mention how our constitutional rights are being violated because I don't believe those that feel 'anything for safety' care about that so I focus on the TSA really doesn't make us safer things.

Everyone:

Since I don't believe TSA is going away, I would love to be convinced that we are safer with TSA and DHS. That would make my travels much more comfortable. Please explain to me your views. Please help me see what you see.

TSA manager arrested at airport for operating his second job as a pimp.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/tsa-manager-arrested-for-running-prostitution-ring-032812#ixzz1qRISaevM

Just imagine the ramp service officer and/or TSA allowing a bomb through.

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId={561bc07a-5da1-4fea-ac81-09e04b66417a}&src=MWHEAD

Janet Napolitano's response to why airports in other countries don't require you to take your shoes of:

"one is, first of all, not all airports in the world face the same threats we face. everything being done is because of constant continual attempts to try do something to the united states and its aviation system . that’s number one."

Full interview here: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/mitchell-reports/46906528#46906528

Do you believe terrorists are only after U.S. airports?

Still more documentation the TSA is not adding to our safety.

This makes 12 child sex crimes in 16 months.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1061123719&srvc=rss

Elderly couple has money stolen at TSA checkpoint.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120418/OPINION03/204180345/1409/METRO/Seniors-get-TSA-runaround-lose-300

"Anyone who rode the bus in Houston, Texas during the 2-10pm shift last Friday faced random bag checks and sweeps by both drug-sniffing dogs and bomb-sniffing dogs (the latter being only canines necessary if "preventing terrorism" were the actual intent of these raids), all courtesy of a joint effort between TSA VIPR nests and three different local and county-level police departments."

So much for if you don't like it, don't fly.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/18/tsa-mission-creep-us-police-state

A lady stripped naked at Denver International Airport and recently a man protesting TSA and harrasment also did in Portland. haha!

It's a shame it has to come to this when people feel harrased and think they have no other alternative.

Screening Rules if you knew or didnt:

You can carry on small amounts of liquids, but you must follow what TSA calls the 3-1-1 rule: 3.4-ounce container(s) or smaller, in one quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag, one bag per passenger. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3.4 ounces, and don’t have to be in the bag. Declare these things at the checkpoint. Officers may open some or all of them to screen them.

The 3.4 ounces applies to the container. Larger containers that are partly filled and large toothpaste tubes that are rolled up aren’t allowed. What’s a “liquid”? Use this informal rule of thumb: If you can pour, pump, squeeze, spread, smear, spray and/or spill it, it’s a liquid. Pastes, ointments and mascara are considered liquids.

Frozen food is considered a solid. If it’s partially melted — “such as gravy,” TSA’s website says — it’s liquid, and subject to 3-1-1.

Snow globes and other tchotchkes containing liquid are prohibited, “even with documentation.”

Gel shoe inserts are forbidden onboard aircraft. Gel-filled bras are allowed. Children 12 and younger may now keep their shoes on.

Scissors with blades shorter than four inches, even with pointed tips, are now allowed. Ice skates — despite having potentially long, sharp blades — are allowed. Screwdrivers seven inches long or shorter are allowed, perhaps surprisingly, as are wrenches and pliers seven inches long or shorter.

Common lighters are O.K., as is one book of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches.

Passing through electronic detection equipment is optional, though TSA assures it is safe for all, including pregnant women. Those opting out will be searched via pat-down.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyl...reening-rules/

Some things were left off the list:

Cupcakes in a jar - http://consumerist.com/2012/01/tsa-rules-that-once-a-cupcake-is-inside-a-jar-its-not-okay-to-carry-on.html

Empty breast milk containers - http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/hawaiian-mom-breast-pump-humiliated-tsa/story?id=15835844#.T4-LyNXEN5o

I didn't know about the gel filled inserts. Wonder how come they are dangerous but gel filled bras aren't.

Diabetic 5th grader gets the grope

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/airport-security-pat-downs_b_1432606.html

It's a darn shame those TSA workers have no sense of humor! I'd love to say "Now you owe me dinner and a movie" after being gropped by them...:hangloose:

Went through tsa five times had no problems any of the times. I was even called sir despite the f marker on my license which is what I prefer. A couple of times they patted one or two small specific areas but at the end nothing. I do have a fairly good system down where I take everything off at out and put it in a small carry on knapsack .. belt ... wallet ... change ... watch ... etc... before i even get to the check point. I don't bother with anything that could be questionable ..just put that stuff in my suitcase.

4 year old gets pat down after hugging Grandma

http://consumerist.com/2012/04/4-year-old-gets-tsa-pat-down-following-hug-from-grandma.html

TSA's policy is to run children under the age of 12 through the scanner until the issue is resolved. Why didn't they do that this time?

because the child touched grandma who was not screened yet......

fucking asshats and none of it does a damn thing to make air travel safer....no intrusive pat down, no 3 oz liquids in a baggy, no shoe removal, no special unregulated xray, no new fancy machines makes us any safer.............but it does keep us in fear and fear IS a terror tactic..........so who is the terrorist?

http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/...Insecurity.jpg


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IfsvLILwMi.../turkeytsa.jpg


http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/...od-For-TSA.jpg

TSA screeners charged in an L.A. drug trafficking probe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/04/25/tsa_screeners_charged_in_la_drug_trafficking_probe/

If the screeners will help with drug trafficking for money, what's to keep them from helping terrorists too?

TSA pat down on 7-year old with cerebral palsy causes family to miss flight.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/04/25/family-misses-flight-after-tsa-gives-pat-down-to-girl-with-cerebral-palsy/

If this child was dangerous enough to require she return to the security point for additional screening, why wasn't there a terminal dump? She could have done anything in the time between being released and being recalled.

TSA screeners are being hired without the background checks completed:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/tsa-bypasses-background-checks-new-hires/nMhrw/

Blogger reports on his mother-in-laws experience with the TSA: There's an anomaly in the crotch area.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/04/tsa-to-my-mother-in-law-theres-an-anomaly-in-the-crotch-area/256450/

Improperly inspected baby causes airport shutdown.

http://gothamist.com/2012/04/27/improperly_inspected_baby_causes_ne.php

Man detained after baggage triggers bomb scare and causes a full terminal dump. Except that the scary item was a water filtration system......

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/04/27/terminal-2-evacuated-at-msp-airport/

People in Houston clearly unhappy about BusSafe, a program designed to become routine in which TSA and law enforcement officers board buses, question passengers, and go through their bags. All in the name of stopping terrorists.

http://www.infowars.com/houstonians-revolt-over-tsa-on-buses/

Will the next phase be cavity searches?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/officials-fear-terrorists-body-bombs-us-bound-planes/story?id=16245827#.T59DrtXEN5p

The cavity search, like the backscatter and invasive pat-down, is just for fun doncha know??? Remember the underwear bombing would have passed backscatter as well as metal detectors.

These explosive devices are being surgically implanted in the abdomen. I'm gonna bet you can see it on backscatter......bazinga as Sheldon says........justification for more of those things....they have to be at least 1/4 million a piece...somebody is gonna make a bunch o money.....

and workers and travelers are being exposed to un-monitered back scatter xrays. If those things were in a hospital, workers and frequent flyers would be wearing those little badges I would think./kicks

your very own tax payer funded terrorists at work......

recently i've had several so-so experiences in the kansas city airport, and pretty good experiences in miami (again) and atlanta. just got through security in atlanta and they gave me my cane back before i even had to go through the metal detector, and didn't force me to do the full-body scanner. on the downside, i had to stand in an enormously long line which was really painful (sometimes they allow me to go in the shorter line so i don't have to stand) - but it's my own fault, i should have just gotten a wheelchair.

my bag did get searched a couple of times in kansas city and miami - i think it's because i have a beaded worry pouch necklace with an arrowhead attached to it, it might have showed up as a sharp object on the scanner or something. they didn't confiscate anything, but it was pretty inconvenient.

Do you feel safer going through these procedures? Would you not fly if these procedures were not in place?

i thought i might have answered these questions in my earlier posts in this thread, but maybe i didn't. personally, the security practices of tsa don't make me feel safe - they often make me feel explicitly unsafe, actually, because i've been exposed to different kinds of discrimination by tsa due to being disabled and muslim. (i have similar mistrustful feelings towards tsa agents as towards police, though perhaps not as strong.) i worry more about feeling unsafe around tsa agents than i do around fellow passengers, to be honest. even if i were seriously concerned about being harmed by another passenger, i don't believe the current security practices are very effective to prevent that from happening.

as long as i can physically withstand the security and boarding processes, i would fly no matter what security procedures are in place because i need to for work. although it can be painful and aggravating to travel this way, it's nowhere near as painful and aggravating (not to mention time-consuming) as the alternative methods of travel.

not to mention aside from security practices and some of the hardship i go through trying to board/de-plane as a disabled person, i actually really enjoy flying and spending time in airports.

when i say "so-so" or "good" experiences with tsa, i mean that i got through the security checkpoint with a minimum of discrimination and aggravation/pain/suffering. (i.e. i made it through without getting patted down multiple times or in intrusive ways, having my mobility aids and luggage taken from me, or being questioned.) not that i actually think the policies or procedures were terribly good or effective.