Thanks to the complete naïveté of Janet Napolitano and her “think tank,” Americans have been lead to believe HLS and the TSA are providing a secure flying environment.
Air travelers in the United States are now given two options at the security gate.
They can be groin-groped by gloved Transportation Security Administration agents, or photographed "naked" in the backscatter X-ray device that Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic calls "the porn machine."
You can thank the failed "underwear bomber" for this one. But didn’t Ms. Napolitano tell us the system worked? Never mind that the scanner technology in place would most likely missed the explosives in his underwear.
The TSA looks for the item the most recent terrorist used. After 9/11, everything sharp, even tweezers, was banned.
To a rational observer, our attempts at airline security are not pro-active, but reactionary. Thus we are behind the terrorist, and not in front of them and their warped minds.
Ever sinceRichard Reid tried and failed to light his loafers on fire, security agents have forced us to take off our shoes. British authorities rounded up terrorists who planned to bring liquid explosives on board, and they have all been prohibited from carrying shampoo or water through the inspection gates ever since.
One must ask the question, does a plane have to blow up to be an act of terror? Emphatically no, the mere attempts by Richard Reid and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, keep the thoughts in the traveler’s mind as they are reminded about such events continuously by the media, though they were unsuccessful. Thus without an explosion an act of terror is completed.
By contrast, Israeli airport-security agents screen for dangerous people.
Terrorists have yet to use the same weapon twice, and the TSA isn't even looking for whatever they'll try to use next. Not too pro-active are they?
How difficult is it to think of all sorts of things a person could use to wreak havoc on a plane that aren't currently banned. Security officials should pay less attention to objects, and more attention to people. This is where background checks and profiling come into play.
The Israelis do it. They are, out of dreadful necessity, the world's foremost experts in counterterrorism. They couldn't care less about what your grandmother brings on a plane.
Instead, officials at Ben Gurion International Airport interview everyone in line before they're even allowed to check in.
They don't profile racially, but they profile. Israeli Arabs breeze through rather quickly, but thanks to the dozens of dubious-looking stamps in a passport, almost half are from Lebanon and Iraq, the potential flyer gets pulled off to the side for more questioning every time; even if they are a white, nominally Christian American.
If they pull the traveler aside, it’s better to tell them the truth. They'll ask so many wildly unpredictable questions so quickly; the traveler couldn't possibly invent a fake story and keep it all-straight. Don't even try. They're highly trained and experienced, and they catch everyone who tries to pull something over on them.
If one fits one of their profiles, it takes 15 or 20 minutes longer to get through the first wave of security than it does for most people. The agents make up for it, though, by escorting them to the front of the line at the metal detector.
They don't put anyone into a "porn machine." There's no point. Terrorists can't penetrate that deeply into the airport.
The Israeli experience isn't pleasant, exactly, and there's a lot not to like about it. It can be exasperating for those who are interrogated more thoroughly.
The system has its advantages, though, aside from the fact that no one looks or reaches into anyone's pants. Israelis don't use security-theater to make passengers feel like they're safe. They use real security measures to ensure that travelers actually are safe. Even when suicide bombers exploded themselves almost daily in Israeli cities, not a single one managed to get through that airport.
The argument has been made by those with a can’t do mentality that Ben Gurion has but 70-80 flights a day, while domestic flights on any given day in the U.S. number 28,000, thank you T.S.A. A can do mind set would dictate that serious professionals should be hired, that will treat U.S. travelers with respect; and at the same time provide the intensive profiling of would be terrorists as the Israelis are doing. Of course it will require more trained professionals, they must come from the private sector and not be part of the government or any union.
Solutions might include the following:
Abandon political correctness. Profiling isn't racism, when effectly used race is not the issue, behavior and background are.
Disband the TSA, remove scanning machines, and go back to non-invasive pat downs, profile and be serious about it. Remember the under ware bomber was on a no-fly list, but that didn’t seem to ring a bell with the person that checked him in.
Would current intrusive TSA measures have prevented the explosives planted in fax ink cartarage? that were checked aboard a flight from Yemen? Nope!
Do away with automatic ticketing kiosks so that the traveler is required to have face-to-face contact with a trained ticketing agent; trained to ask penetrating questions.
Provide the frequent flyer usually businessmen and women with the opportunity to apply for a secure retinal scanned identification that would allow them a completely different boarding procedure.
Think about it, if one has flown several million miles for business; is it likely they would become a “brief case bomber?" Not likely at all.
These are just a few ideas, yes they would add additional time to the check in procedure but time could be made up by going through security in a much more timely and less intrusive fashion.
***Please feel free to add your suggestions and ideas.***
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it., I'm J.C.
Should you desire to receive a daily blast from the Examiner please click on the subscribe button above. This reporter promises, to be timely, to entertain, to be accurate, and provide the sourcing not provided by the mainstream media.
Background information for this article came additionally from an excellent piece updated today by Michael J. Totten, in the New York Post. ‘Forget the 'porn machines'
Comments
Very good, Jim! I especially like the point in your article: "Terrorists have yet to use the same weapon twice, and the TSA isn't even looking for whatever they'll try to use next. Not too pro-active are they?" I'll have to check out Michael's article too. But this is a must-read for my facebook pals. God Bless. ~ JR
Jim, I'm taking the day off from thinking. Tomorrow.
Thanks Jim! I love your stuff!!!! another eye opener, posting on my wall at Face Book, thanks. Janice
Excellent article Jim again we are on the same page. Thank you.
Good points. You have your thinking cap on straight. I don't see why we couldn't follow the example you've shown at the Ben Gurion airport. It's sensible and safe. Of course our president wouldn't want to make it seem that Americans can actually be smart. That might be offensive to those who hate us. Keep up the good work Jim! Maybe one day our government will tire of pushing our buttons and give us back some of our stolen freedoms.
Jim, as usual, good job. While we do have tens of thousands of flights they're not all departing from the same airport, so that's a bit cute on the part of the critics. Profiling most clearly DOES work when done right by correctly trained people. We have all kinds of folks in the States who can EASILY come up with sensible suggestions on improving safety--be it through proper cargo inspection or profiling. If a proper analysis is done, we'll see there are also a significant number of frequent flyers who could be vetted and so long as we're sure the person IS the person we believe them to be, we don't need to spend a lot of time EVERY time he flies, screening him. (I don't like politicians, but I don't believe ANY member of Congress is going to blow up a plane he is on, for one example.)
Jim I coulnt agree more, thanks for doing what you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Deb
Thanks for sharing this with me, Jim. You do a wonderful job, keep up the great work. Will be sharing.
Well said Jim!
My thoughts, your words. I said when the underwear idiot did what he did, "What is next, take off your underwear". Right! Next it will, step into our private screening room so we can give you a rectal exam cause that what Joe Schmo tried putting a capsule up his A-hole!. This is outrageous, we all need to revolt against this invasion of Privacy!! I for one am flying and if they try to put their hands on me, they'll be sorry. Y
In addition, you need a judges order to search a home and have to show cause before hand to get it. so how can they grope a person, or take graphic pictures of their naked bodies without your consent and for no good reason except some Radical Muslim you don't even know somewhere did something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another great article, wish the MSM would post this! Something to think about, how about the implode/sound bomb/IED proof booth? ***over the TSA PA*** clean up on Terminal C, TSA booth 666. No Problem of Racial profiling, no porn machines, no groping; suspect has IED ***poof*** they're gone . The Isreali's are close to making this a reality, inegenious, I think!!! :0)
The CIA upper commanders were murdered in Afghanistan...Thats one way Ovommit got a foothold.They would of never allowed, a non citizen to run for pres..Your not paying attention...To me and alot of other people if you listen to Allen West,...... Americans need to wake up...America is almost broke, Ovommit has done nothing for Americans he is profiling americans at airports not Muslims, do Americans strap bombs to themselves and blow themselves up? No they dont do little boys blow up planes or grand mothers? In life people are either part of the problem or part of the solution... I fought for my country while others ran away..To me the disrespect Ovommit gives to the American Flag and our military by not attending the ceremony of the Tomb of the unknown soldier and honoring war dead at Arlington, was a plain and clear message to those in harms way and all veterans. Causing mental anguish, when you see your friends shot and killed fighting the barbaric cowards, you like to know your president cares about the common soldier and when he doesnt thats the worst crime! Arrest him for high treason, we have no time left, he is spending us into bankruptcy and has caused mental anguish in the military, and their families, appathy and thinking this is politics as usual is just plain niave...The pres is a clean cut ivy league looking tiger woods that is aligned with muslim extremists and when he declares marshall law by sending in sabotuers to a peacefull tea party march to disrupt..he will open fire and make kent state look like a party. He spent 20million dollars of taxpayer money to bring in 80,000 muslims do the math, 80,000 divided by 50 states, they can take over a few military installations and with our tanks weapons and ammo mow down shotguns and pitch fork carrying patriots.You don't believe me ask Susan Sharer thats who told me become her friend she has thousands of Patriots that know this, you and milions of others are ripe for takeover.I am not starting anything..but I will not allow my children and family to see me and others walk quietly into the frieght trains or worse into main street beheadings because oviommit will betray every one this is not politics as usual..He is the first pres that has not gone to Arlington cemetary to honor war dead...Amen
Jim,
Terrorist have no need to fly in they can walk in across our american borders ....use k9 to sniff out the problem ...these nude machines are getting some one lots of money some where follow the money ...we refuse to fly any where now we can drive or ride the grey hound bus line ...airlines don't need our money to bad to allow this crap to go on .
Jim, I'm not a security expert. I lived in Israel for many years during the 60's and 70's, and like most people there at the time, became security conscious to a degree that seems to have escaped the TSA and the Obama administration.
My opi...nion? The TSA has become a giant bureaucracy and like all such bureaucracies,(1) form takes more of an important role than content; (2) rules replace human judgment; and (3) hiring becomes a matter of numbers rather than talent and skills.
Jim,
Since 99% of the terrorist threat is coming into our country from the outside, it is not cost effective or rational to spend this much time and effort for "pat downs" and body scanners on people who live in this country. Just thought.
Hi Jim- I don`t understand why the American don`t use the Israeli security system. There is no one that knows how to deal with this situation like Israel.
Spot on Jim. You covered it well! The govt continues to push the American people everyday. This is one more terror tactic on their part. It will eventually bankrupt the airline industry allowing the door open to yet another govt takeover!
I am glad I don't fly anymore!
Great article, Jim. You make good points re. Ben Gurion airport and the tactics used by terrorists, etc
Jack Webb on How to Deal With the TSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8b14WkV2LE&feature=player_embedded
Jim, I will not fly now. Thanks for your article. My sister's business is dependent upon successful air travelers at SeaTac. Why does the TSA want to push us to boycott flying; and make it so uncomfortable? What are they doing? Why?
I hate the TSA!! I have boycotted flying for 2 yrs now because of them! I would LOVE to adopt what Israel has! It's amazing what the American people have learned to allow themselves to put up with!
My take on it is this...racial profiling is ethical when conducting medical and pharmaceutical research and in the college admission process through affirmative action and in the name of increasing "diversity" so it should be ethical in determining who is a threat and who should be searched...PERIOD...Israel uses racial profiling and it works!
Thanks Jim and and thank you for your clarification as well...I am in grad school so if you need any information on medical/pharamceutical research let me know and I can send you links to research articles :)...there is a vast amount of research that deliniates people based on race/gender...
TSA Agent Arrested For Raping 14-Year-Old These people will never touch my kids.
This is so disgusting. They need to give all these jerks the anal probe before they do it to us. They are frequently the lowest of the low
All of this while quite real for the moment may be designed to have us take our eyes off the ball.
Make sure to stay involved in the political process folks because Obama is wanting to lull you to sleep ...... if the Bush Era Tax Cuts expire like he wants them to your taxes are going up 1,000's of dollars on January 1st. Stay on top of this.
Francis Marion Nation
We find it totally unneeded, invasive and a clear way to humiliate the American People. This is the insane running the institution.
Our question is why does the American People put up with this crap, why are we so acquiescent to our government? Our government should drop to their knees to the will of the people.
I will not fly until this outrage is repealed. I love my country, but I have come to hate my government.
Great addition to your previous article on Ron Paul's bill Jim..keep firing.
If people had listened to Ron Paul before last election we wouldn't be in this mess right now. The ONLY man is Washington that HAS A CLUE, and knows how to use it to OUR benefit! The American people are so used to being amazed with Smoke and Mirrors, that they TOTALLY MISS THE TRUTH, This MAN KNOWS THE TRUTH!!! Semper Fi.
Thank for posting Jim, this was a great article.
"More and more Americans are coming to the chilling realization ... " I'll bet it's just about unanimous at this point.
"More and more Americans are coming to the chilling realization that U.S. membership in the United Nations poses a very real threat to our survival as a free and independent nation.
How many Americans are familiar with it’s formation in 1945 by Communists and socialists? How much more unaware could the American citizen be to not deman...
Have a laugh at the TSA's expense! Stupidity abounds!
TSA Takes Nail Clippers From Armed Soldier
I know Jim were the heck are we heading from here is scary. How do we stop them???
Jim..............
The Japanese on their way to design a robot to do a full body pat down with measuring the heart beat during the pat down which gives signal as soon as the pat is near the hidden object plus another signal when touching the object, the person then will be caught and dealt with in the airport. Then there will be no human tough involved, no human will be seeing the private parts, no rights will be breached because it will be only a robot is doing all of these and no one can complain. Hopefully they come with these robots as soon as the trial is successful.
J.C.
Obama is not an American. He is either a Muslim or a Closet Muslim. Even in his own book he said he would stand with the Muslims. That is about the only thing he has told the truth about.
Thank you, Jim, for this article. Definitely, we must follow Israelis' strategy; it is working for them. Forget about being politically correct. Our nation must have real security in the airports.
pearles for the swines? The CIA has been caught numerous times trafficking airplanes full of dope, yet still people think they are worthy of any trust. All our newspapers have been caught lying, still people trust them. If you do not believe that, just do your research. Where does the corporate influence end?
My baby is NOT a very young consumer, she is growing up to be a nice human being, respecting people before (corporate) money; choosing people before power. She will understand (just like I do) your ideology where money should be given freedom, but she will understand that corporations should NOT buy into any government, because money can kill without remorse.
Freedom for money means that someone can make a billion/trillion bucks by neglecting justice for me, you, my baby and yours. Politics must be politics, people must be allowed their right of living or else they are slaves. Read the real American bill of Rights.
The second amendment is very useful: it makes sure that We The People can defend themselves against their corporate government. Too bad it has been used in corporate society for poor people to kill each other and a few middle class. ESCAPE!
MLK: we can live together.
Hi Jim,
My take is that we could learn a lot from Israel and their security.
On Fox news over the weekend. At least one talking head said we should duplicate Israel's procedures. Thanks for this. Marcus
Jim, after hearing many of the details and reports on this issue, it appears to be another check-off on the list for implementing totalitarianism in America. Get America, got the world.... Not only is the practice unconstitutional under t...he guise of "protecting us"--that takes intelligent "PROFILING" of appropriate individuals, behavior OR indicators of potential intent--worst case is Americans simply refuse to use the airlines for travel, and under this economy do not travel internationally especially. The result of this could be bankrupting the airlines--and then, guess what you'd already know: the American government does another take-over of the private sector and makes laws enforcing the USE of airline travel in one way or another, and all the ills of totalitarianism that go with this.
Then again, just let's not forget, no matter what is being claimed otherwise--the FEMA camps are real, are in place throughout America already, and under any totalitarian "rule", they can and would be used for anyone.... DISSENTERS at the top of the list. This is not a "scare tactic" statement: it's something on the list of what American citizens must keep on their own individual lists, and STAY AHEAD of the POWER GAME under this Congress and this Administration.
This is the harshest concept and natural deduction: WE MUST IMMEDIATELY TAKE STEPS at all levels of government, local on up, to "REPLACE" all elements intent on the implementation of totalitarianism, such as we've seen since Campaign 2008 in America. We cannot afford to let anyone continue to "es-plain" things away like "we" are the nut-cases, when the reverse is true--they are indepenedantly, "insanely jealous of power, and economic greed personally" which is what drives them in the kind of blind-sighted fervor of Pelosi and Reid. Newt Gingrich just published what he wrote out the overview of an excellent "check-off" list to REMOVE this terrible blight from American government.... (linked on my profile page).
Jim,
I think the underwear bomber was hoodwinked into thinking he had a real bomb instead of a dud so that the government could start using the scanners. (follow the money trail). Long ago, a friend told me that the government creates problems and then offer themselves as the solution. Wonder if he was right. Just my thoughts.
Jim,
Since the beginning of the TSA reign, earlier this decade, it puzzled me as to why we didn't take a page from the Israelis. But then, it's the Feds, who as we know are soooo efficient at everything they do. My first flight under this system is next week. If given the choice, I go with the nudie shots. That may result in further groping though due to a plate in my arm. I'll keep you posted. Depending on photo quality, it may be my Christmas card!
Brilliant article JIm. You have some completely nailed it. WAKE UP AMERICA!, You're government is taking away your liberties. . .
Terrorist are always coming up w/ new ways to terrorize.. i loved what you said.. we need to start being PROactive and not reactive!
Terrorists adapt to any security measure ! That is why all the publicity makes it even more of a joke. Serious profiling is needed, forget about children, women, grandmas profile them don't touch them. It works in Israel. Don't be duped, by naysayers that suggest that Israel's success results from a small number of flights. Individual U.S. airports could provide the same security, get the TSA and the Govt out now. Wonderful article Jim I've just subscribed to your "junk" :-) M.
Jim. You're doing a great job keeping the fires burning--we can't let down this time. It's got to be right here, right now on all fronts, and Congress needs to be on their toes all the way, also.
Jim, This doesn't surprise me, a few years ago trying to get out of England, ,in a 6 block walk we went through 4 check points, and each check point could see the other, each time the first thing they asked was did you stop and buy or except anything since the last check point, on the fifth one I went ballistic, and the head lady came over and asked what the problem was and I told her we where going to miss are plane. and we just about did..yes their is a lot of stupidity out there.
P.S. I can just imagine what it's like now with a scanner every 1/2 block.
Jim:
You forgot to say "progressive think tank". The Progressive "thought" process is completely different and that is why normal people can't follow it. Instead of working your thought process from the problem to a solution, think of what you want as the solution and the then work backward on how to achieve it.
THERE HAS TO BE A COUPLE THAT ARE AS SMART AS GRASSHOPPERS AFTER ALL THE TSA AGENTS NEED SUPERVISERS
THERE HAS TO BE A COUPLE THAT ARE AS SMART AS GRASSHOPPERS AFTER ALL THE TSA AGENTS NEED SUPERVISERS
Someone said to me that they are only doing what they are told...Duh..we know that but so were the Nazi troopers....
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