Isaac Yeffet, former Deputy Director of Security of Operations for the Israeli foreign ministry and Director of El Al Airline's security, was interviewed on KFI Radio January 11th regarding airline security and the new regulations being implemented.
Questioned by afternoon hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, Yeffet answered a host of questions and addressed the topic of the controversial naked body scanners, purported by the U.S. government to be the lastest tool necessary to prevent potential terrorism.
Asked how terrorists should be stopped, Yeffet replied "He must be stopped on the ground at the airport. it's not complicated."
Yeffet seemed frustrated at the U.S. government's lack of effective security measures despite spending billions of dollars: "September 11. 3000 people lost their lives. Why? No security. Have we learned something? No." He maligned new stringent regulations as ineffective, explained why naked body scanners were unnecessary and how proper security should be implemented.
"He hide his explosive in his underwear... he has to be seen naked? because of this Nigerian... Even to the restroom you will not be able to go. This is not the security we are looking for."
Yeffet explained why profiling is necessary and how the process worked in conjunction with Intelligence agencies: "I dont care about his religion. I don't care sbout his citizenship...before you come to the airport we already know about you... We are connected with the Israeli intelligence. Any information to use it to the maximun effetiveness. 99.9 percent of the passengers are honest and bona fide. I want to check your passport.. your visas."
Asked about the recent case of the Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Yeffet exaplained what he would have done differently, and how airline security is a very serious matter that should be left to professionals. "He would never ever could be able to dream to be able to come to the aircarft. The intelligence knew he was connected to al Qaida...he bought a one way ticket he paid 3000 dollars cash... If something is suspicious i would not leave one piece...Do not rely only on technology. technology can not replace the well trained human being."
Chiampou references a poll that claims Americans are in favor of the body scanners 80 to 20 per cent.
"The people who sat on that information should be fired", Yeffet says in reference to the security who let Abdulmutallab on the plane to Detroit, and also referenced the shoe bomber Richard Reid. "No one asked him one simple question. You know who are the brave security people? the passengers on the flight...we can not leave the security in the hands of innocent passengers."
In the third segment, Yeffet was asked about Muslim opposition to the naked body scanners. "I am not Muslim but I am very familiar with the Muslim traditions..and I know that we have millions of Muslims in this country. So many women when they leave the house they cover their body from the head to the bottom. Now she can not go by herself somebody has to escort her. Now realize that this woman, will go with her husband or with her brother or son to take a flight and we tell the man step aside, now i want to see your wifes body naked?? Do you know what kind of negative reaction we will get? Not only from th couple. Do you know what wil happen in the Muslim world?? Did somebody think for a second that in Saudi Arabia women can not even drive, she can not leave the house whatsoever without somebody to escort her.. Bring this woman to this country and i want to see who would allow us to see her body naked?
"Now let's assume that you and me will be ready to be seen naked. Did the security solve the problem of the flight? Definitely not. Why? You are covering only part of the problem. The big problem is that we have cargo . We have luggage. We have catering. We have fueling. We have people that load the luggage on the flight. the aircarft. we have people that are cleaning the aircarft. we have. you must have security that will search aircaft, that is clean from any explosive, before you allowing the passenger to board.
"What kind of security this we have? Why we have to hurt the people and to let them be insulted by telling them 'we have no choice' . why our system is patch on top of patch. Shoe bomber, take off your shoes now. underwear. i want to see you naked? ...Here we solve nothing or almost nothing. we spend billions dollars to buy this equipment , and all the rest of the security , who will take care of it? I need to know.
"Are we waiting for another tragedy that will find out that from the cargo we had explosives that killed hundreds of innocent peoiple ? and then well try to break out head how to solve the problem of the cargo?
Why I can not do it today? Why I can not do it yesterday? Why I can not cover all the items that has connected with the flight to make sure from a to z. I covered everything , and before I release the aircraft , I want to feel that the aircraft is in my shoulders. And I'm asking myself, did I do everything from a to z one hundred per cent?"
Kobylt remarks, "you know what you talk differently than American securty officials; American security officials talk in these vague beaurocatic terms"., and asks about the passion and dedication Yeffet illustrates.
Yeffet responds, "...we do care we are dealing with life. Business, money you can make money; life I cannot replace, and therefore once I was hired to save life I have to prove myself every day. When i was the head of security, God as my witness, thousands of tests I used to do, to my guys around the world. To show them that real and that tests should be the same. and if you fail in the smallest test, go home. No mercy. No mercy. Go home, thank you very much. Only this way people understood that they have to take very very seriously the responsibility of the security of each flight we fly."
Asked if he would streamline the American security process, Yeffet explains how he wrote a letter to the
Homeland Security Secretary last year offering to to take over security at one airport: "let me show you how can I implement our system at Newark airport", sarcastically concluding that "they sent me very nice letter". "We must find solutions", he emphasized. "We can not continue relying on luck....enough is enough"
He then outliend how profiling is the answer. "Since September 11 this country spent billions of dollars for security. Where is the security? I didnt see it. I didnt see it from September 11."
When asked to give a quick rundown of what kind of system he'd have if he were in charge of security of a New York airport, Yeffet explained:
"if you come to the flight believe me; I will be- first of all youd be on the list of the passengers. Number two every passenger that's coming we have a special list of suspicious passangers. We try to match it. If you are there, you can not surprise me because I'll be waiting for you,. and then I'll take care of you. Again remember 99.9 percent of the passengers are innocent & bonafide passengers. I'm looking for the one.
Kobylt asks. "But you'd need the U.S. government to have a modern system of coalating the information", to which Yeffet replied "So? It's not complicated".
Referencing Obama's calls for change, Yeffet says "so if he demanded changes, lets change it...I wish we wiull be proactive and save the lives of innocent people".
A ten-minute Youtube excerpt of yeffet discussing the naked body scanners can be heard below. The full podcast can of the original interview can be heard here. Click on 'El Al Security 4PM (1/11) Former El Al Security Chief Speaks'.
See also, Alex Jones Calls For Mass Resistance To Implementation Of Body Scanners
Infowars naked body scanner ARCHIVE
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