Security personnel at Dulles seen as risk

Washington Times ^ | 10/16/01 | Daniel F. Drummond

[kattracks]

More than 80 percent of the departure-gate screeners and baggage handlers at Washington Dulles International Airport are not U.S. citizens, which makes completing full background checks on them difficult, according to Kenneth M. Meade, inspector general of the Department of Transportation.

[TeleStraightShooter]

More than 80 percent of the departure-gate screeners and baggage handlers at Washington Dulles International Airport are not U.S. citizens

I went thru those gates several times this summer, the gatekeepers were functionally illiterate, and most fit the demographic profile of the FBI's new most wanted list.

[Lion's Cub]

Puting security services under the DOJ is leaping out of the frying pan into the fire. I haven't seen any effort at all to clean up the corruption in the DOJ; so I see no reason to take private corruption and federalize it.

This is, however, one of the problems that congress must address. Confiscating nail clippers from passengers might make the congress feel tough, but it does zilch to increase safety. There is no safety program that can counteract the stupidity of allowing terrorists to work in our airports and on our airlines. It's time for congress to grow up.

[america76]

Ever been through Pearson airport in Toronto? You'd swear the plane landed in India or Pakistan by mistake. This is no exageration, it took me about 20 minutes and 10 conversations in foreign languages to find out where I could buy a pack of cigarettes. NOBODY there spoke English, most had a towel of one description or another on their head. I'd heard stories, but untill I saw it for myself I never believed it.

[FreedomPoster]

I've been commenting for the last couple of years about "the illusion of security" while waiting to pass through the metal detectors. Ask anyone who has flown with me (especially my wife). I don't perceive that it's that much better, and the checkpoint employees are the reason why.

[bimbo]

I have a problem understanding how making over these undocumented illiterate immigrants into federal workers is going to improve security. But I can see three other effects: 1) It will raise their pay and benefits. 2) They will join the federal unions where even incompetent workers are protected, and 3) They will unfailingly vote Democrat - forever.

[RightRules]

Interesting predictions... and I hope you're wrong. But that's the way our bureaucracy operates. That's why I continue to hope that the security work is handed over to the US military. We're already paying those folks... and not a king's ransom, either.

Others here have been insisting that private enterprise should handle this job. I have one word for them: Argenbright.

Airport security at the nation's major airports has been a joke for some time and I do not believe that raising salaries will change anything. Our government must resist the temptation to create an expensive bureaucracy out of this and get serious about protecting our homeland.

And, I suggest we start by considering just how much freedom any foreign national should have to travel inside our country (and without any "help" from the ACLU).

[mom of 2 GOP kids]

I've been commenting for the last couple of years about "the illusion of security" while waiting to pass through the metal detectors. Ask anyone who has flown with me (especially my wife). I don't perceive that it's that much better, and the checkpoint employees are the reason why.

Down here in FL, the problem with our airport security is not that they are foreign, but that they are all over 75yrs old. My husband always comments on it. Besides the fact they can't see well, what would they do if someone breached security? Beat them with their cane? They definitely have to have some standards and get real security. The old timers are really defensive about it, say they are more consciencous. Maybe they are, but sorry, I don't have a lot of confidence in their ability, if their driving is any indication.