The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) newly-implemented enhanced search procedure is making headlines on the busiest travel day of the year and has spurred a national debate. Accounts of air travelers who have felt humiliated by airport screeners have been reported by mainstream media and have gone viral on the internet (see video).
On one side of the debate are those who feel that it is necessary to tolerate a “minor inconvenience” for safety and security. On the other hand, there are those who feel that the procedures are a health risk, an invasion of privacy, and an infringement of civil liberties that have little or no benefit in terms of flight security.
The procedure involves the use of full body x-ray scanners that show a virtually naked image of travelers as they pass through in order to detect concealed explosives. Travelers selected for the enhanced search have the choice to opt out of the scan, but then must submit to an enhanced pat down that involves touching of breast and genital areas.
An organization that has deemed today “National Opt Out Day” is encouraging travelers to opt out of the scan, which if done in sufficient numbers, could cause delays on a stressful travel day that has already been marred by inclement weather in western states. Thus far today, no delays due to passengers opting out of scans have been reported at Orlando International Airport or any other major airport where the machines are in use.
Officials say the procedures are necessary to ward off terror attacks like the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane last Christmas by a Nigerian man who stashed explosives in his underwear. The TSA says the scans emit very low radiation and aren't a health risk. “It’s all about security,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said. “It’s all about everybody recognizing their role.”
Many who oppose the new procedures say that security is not the issue. Scientists and physicians have warned that the scanners may cause cancer. A group of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) raised concerns about the "potential serious health risks" from the scanners in a letter sent to the White House Office of Science and Technology in April. "While the dose would be safe if it were distributed throughout the volume of the entire body, the dose to the skin may be dangerously high," they wrote. Dr Michael Love, who runs an X-ray lab at the department of biophysics and biophysical chemistry at Johns Hopkins University school of medicine, said to Agence France Presse that "they say the risk is minimal, but statistically someone is going to get skin cancer from these X-rays." Ironically, those most at risk are TSA employees, since they are repeatedly exposed to the radiation emitted from the use of these machines.
Kate Hanni, the founder of FlyersRights.org, argues that the scanners and pat downs are a violation of all Americans 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable search. Hanni also told the Huffington Post that former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff ‘s security consulting firm, The Chertoff Group, benefits from the sale of the scanners because they have helped Rapiscan - the manufacturer of the machines, navigate the government procurement process.
Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Ted Poe (R-TX) seem to agree with Hanni’s assessment. Both introduced legislation and blasted Chertoff and the TSA on the House floor last week. "Michael Chertoff!" Paul exclaimed, "I mean, here's the guy who was the head of the TSA, selling the equipment. And the equipment's questionable. We don't even know if it works, and it may well be dangerous to our health." Rep. Poe claimed that Chertoff gave interviews touting the scanners while "getting paid" to sell them. "There is no evidence these new body scanners make us more secure. But there is evidence that former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff made money hawking these full body scanners."
Some go as far as to argue that the scanners are ineffective and actually make air travelers less secure. Rafi Sela, a leading Israeli airport security expert, told the Canadian Parliament, "I don't know why everybody is running to buy these expensive and useless machines. I can overcome the body scanners with enough explosives to bring down a Boeing 747. That's why we haven't put them in our airport," Sela said, referring to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, which has some of the toughest security in the world.
According to the UK Daily Mail, Tory MP Ben Wallace, who worked on the scanners at defense research organization QinetiQ before entering Parliament in 2005, said the machines would not have detected the type of explosives that “underwear” bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab used in trying to mount his attack on Christmas Day. Alert passengers stopped the underwear bomber, the shoe bomber and stopped an airplane from striking the white house on September 11. If air travelers are lulled into a false sense of security, it can be argued that they may be less alert.
For most Americans traveling this holiday season, the new enhanced search procedure is simply a matter of inconvenience. Few travelers want to spend any more time at an airport than is necessary. For others, it is a safety issue, and they have no problem sacrificing some of their time for additional security. For others, it is a health issue and/or an issue of civil liberties. No matter how one perceives this issue, it is safe to say that it will remain in the public spotlight throughout the busy holiday travel season.
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Comments
It is really to bad that our government and the tsa decided that we need porno scans or to grop us in the airport infront of everyone to see, to keep us safe. When they can tell if a woman is on their monthly cycle but can't tell about the explosives mentioned in this article, then why bother, set bomb sniffing dogs at the front doors and leave my body parts away from radiation and away from the TSA's hands!
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