The three-ring circus currently known as the TSA has been issuing directives and statements over the last week+ in an effort, we can only assume, to keep us safe after Umar Farouk AbdulMuttalaban attempted to blow up a NWA flight bound for Detroit. It appears, however, that they’ve only managed to confuse the situation and tick off travel writers in the process.
A bit of background…
1. On Christmas Day, a Nigerian man tried to ignite an explosive on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. He was thwarted when passengers stopped him.
2. Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, read a statement on December 26 suggesting that passengers be “observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior…”. In effect making YOU Big Brother. Oh, and there was her line about security measures working properly because the bomb didn’t go off. Apparently she didn’t know it was passengers and NOT airport security that actually stopped the would-be bomber’s efforts.
3. On December 27, a TSA Security Directive was leaked to a couple of travel writers, including Steven (Fish) Frischling and Chris Elliott. Both posted the directives on their websites.
The Directive gave power to the pilots on many fronts including prohibiting passengers from getting up out of their seat beginning one hour prior to landing and preventing passengers from having pillows, blankets or personal items in their lap during that one hour. Some airlines limited the number of carry-on bags to just one.
4. On December 29, Federal Agents appeared at Chris’ and then Fish’s door, demanding access to their computers to find out who sent the leaked Security Directive. Chris denied their request and called his lawyer while Fish allowed them to make a copy of his hard drive. The agents returned the next day, took his computer, and then returned it damaged later that day.
5. The subpoenas against Fish and Chris were dropped on New Year’s Eve.
6. Finally, on January 3, the TSA released a new statement regarding security measures for international flights. The statement? It consists of one paragraph with few details:
“Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights.”
*****
There’s been increased talk about adding full body scanners at airports, a likelihood after this most recent incident. According to CNN Travel, as many as 150 have already been purchased and an additional 300 units are expected by 2012.
Sure, the TSA folks have a hard job. But throwing higher-end technology at the problem won’t solve everything.
I have often (absent-mindedly) gone through a screening checkpoint having forgotten to pull out my quart-size bag containing liquids. No one’s noticed a thing. How thorough is THAT?
The Department of Homeland Security is using smoke and mirrors to give the impression that we are all going to be safer. Unfortunately, the problem is systemic. Throwing vague security directives at us does no good. Using the Christmas Day incident as reason to implement body scan machines (virtual strip searches) is ridiculous. Strong arming travel writers and bloggers into silence is pitiful.
Bad people are always going to find ways to do bad things. And while there are measures that can be implemented to help avoid catastrophes, being on a U.S. watch list (as our Christmas Day bomber was in the U.K.) would have averted this whole situation.
DHS – please don’t ask us to do your job. We’d feel safer if you would talk to other countries and share watch lists. Talk to other agencies and share info about potential terrorists. And when a father calls the authorities to alert them that he thinks his son is a terrorist? Listen.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Security Alert – Peanut Butter is Spreadable
Airport Safety = Security Theater?
Where Have all the Clunkers Gone?
Photo credit: security line – kalleboo
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Travel Blogs says
I find those X-rays a bit offending. I heard of a new system they’re testing in the Netherlands that doesn’t depend on human checking controls..
Jennifer says
Excellent article! I couldn’t agree more, and would never allow a full body scan of myself (or my children). That is just going too far!