Thoughts on New TSA Rules
I’m sure that most of you saw that Michael Yon was arrested (or detained) yesterday in Seattle for refusing to disclose his personal income to TSA screeners. Basically what happened was is Yon was taken aside for further screening (which he should considering his travel patterns) and was asked about his income. When he refused to answer, he was handcuffed. I can’t think of any valid reason why income would be an issue when it comes to screening airline passengers, but I guess some “analyst” or “security expert” thought it was pertinent question to ask airline passengers. I am assuming these are the same “analysts” and “security experts” who are coming up with all the new rules and regulations for airline security in response to the Christmas Day underwear bomber.
My fundamental problem with the TSA implementing new rules is that is quite clear that the old rules and regulations were not being properly enforced prior to this bombing attempt. If the old rules weren’t being follow, what makes anybody believe that the new ones will? This is not like 9/11 where the hijackers exploited loopholes in lax airline security rules. By no measure under TSA and Northwest Airline rules, should have the underwear bomber been allowed to even get near the plane. This was a failure in several different agencies (State Department, CIA, TSA, etc.) and in the airline itself.
The problem isn’t a lack of rules, its the people enforcing them.
Last thing: we need to be careful about “profiling”. I don’t have a problem with the TSA pulling aside people who are coming from countries like Yemen, Sudan, Iraq, or Afghanistan for extra screening. These countries obviously are having problems with terrorism, but also are having issues with stability and naturally can’t be expected to have the same quality of security as would other nations. However, Al Qaida is a very dynamic organization and they will find ways around this, just like with everything else. The TSA needs to make sure they can stay one step ahead of them and remain flexible (and flexible doesn’t mean coming out with stupid new rules everytime they get a threat), but I fear they are too bureaucratic to do that.
They should also looking into giving their employees some Combat Hunter training.
Category: Politics
Also this is some what fresh.
A Slovak man unwittingly carried hidden explosives on board a weekend flight to Dublin after a Slovakian airport-security test went awry, Irish officials announced Tuesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100105/ap_on_re_eu/eu_ireland_slovakia_hidden_explosives
Kinda sounds like the “busy” work the occasional idiot leader in the military would give his troops instead of letting them take a break. Yea, let’s make people think you actually know what you’re doing.
I’ve been pulled aside twice going into Toronto and asked dumb shit like, “How will you pay for your stay?”. I pulled out a few credit cards and put them on the counter. I was even asked, “How much money do you have?” I replied, “In my bank account, or on me?”. The response was “How much money do you have access do, in order to pay for your stay in case your credit cards are declined?”. I point to my passport and say, “I’ve been to Toronto and Ottawa 2 dozen times in the last year…don’t you think I’d already have stayed if I was going to?” Silly me to expect them to have a sense of humor.
Those questions about how I was going to pay gave me pause…was Canada going to call AMEX and Wells Fargo and Fidelity and … and get my cards canceled for some reason?
Now, I understand why Canada might want to make sure that I can pay for my trip and won’t go on the dole while I’m there. But Yon? He’s a freaking American! Good for him in telling them to get stuffed.
Silly bastards…
correction…”access to”
It’s interesting that all of the questioning seems to center around money. Are they worried about deserters from the USA? Michael Yon has a Facebook page if anyone is interested. I love his reports and photographs.
Napolitano mentioned that new screening techniques would not be monolithic, but would change from time to time and place to place in an unpredictable pattern, making it harder for the enemy to get a bead on how to beat the system. Sounds like a good start….
WTF does my or any other traveler’s income have to do with being a terrorist? What WILL the TSA do, a credit report background check on everyone?
Who helped kill the airline industry? The TSA, a Big Gub’ment entity.
Idiots all.