Posted on 11/20/2010 12:49:22 PM PST by bsaunders
Our ever-friendly Transportation Safety Administration sure has smacked a hornet’s nest with their new see-through body scanners and overtly invasive body inspections that border on criminal groping if done unofficially. The anger this has raised has once again brought to the front the example of the Israeli method of clearing people through questioning rather than all the hi-tech gadgetry. Some will always criticize the Israeli method due to the fact that it is a form of profiling. This is a mute and unsubstantiated complaint as the Israelis profile not by race, religion, or other physical traits, but profile by the answers, body language, conflicting information given at different points and other time proven methods. Though it would be wonderful if we could train and utilize a similar method in the United States, there are many reasons that make the Israeli method pretty much workable for their unique situations.
I have often heard people make the argument that following the Israeli methods here in the United States would be difficult due to the vast number of passengers that would need to be passed through the system each day. That, for the most part, is a valid point, which could be overcome with sufficient numbers of well-trained interviewers. Another point is that nobody would take such a momentous job requiring a large skill-set unless the salary was commensurate with the level of expectation and responsibility. Again, true but not insurmountable. But most of these arguments miss the most important differences between the United States and Israel.
In Israel, somebody getting onto a plane is definitely leaving the country. Nobody flies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Part of leaving the country you have to present a passport. Passports list all your previous international travel destinations and thus present some very important information about the traveler. This is not true for most flights in the United States. Israel has one, and only one, airport. This airport was designed to suit the Israeli method of staged interviews as the means of identifying potential risks. Most American airports would require significant remodeling to facilitate this method. In Israel, there is one major carrier that accommodates the majority of those flying. This is not the case in any major metropolitan airport in the United States. Add to that the number of local carriers who service a smaller subset of airports and the problem gets that much more complex. America also has many small airports that may only see half dozen or so flights on an average day. With only Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, with approximately the same volume of flights per day, planning is far easier to tailor to the needs.
So, what could we do differently that would allow us to use a more efficient and less intrusive system. The answer is to take one of two routes. We could have each airline company be responsible for their own security.
By going this route, the airlines would all take different approaches and could learn from each other to iron out the method best suited to each. The other route would be to have each airport be responsible for security. This would make sense as then the airports with the least traffic would not require the mega-million dollar scanners and could use a system more suited to a small town where the passengers are mostly visiting relatives. With each airport using their own systems, once again they could learn from each other.
Something different has to be done, as the government method is obviously not working out. As usual, the Federal Government is, true to form, trying to hammer the nail with a jackhammer, not a normal hammer. As long as we leave this problem in the less than capable hands of the Federal Government, we can expect a continuing elevation of one overkill idea after another. My prediction is sooner or later the government will issue sheer pajamas or equally skimpy and embarrassing approved clothing for all air travelers.
How about have a slab of bacon at each gate and require each passenger to touch it before they can board?
Israel has only one airport? Does not sound like you have been there. They have several in-country airports that handle internal flights.
Statement that Ben Gurion essentially has only one major airline serving most of the people flying is absurd. The country is served by several US airlines as well as numerous other European and other airlines. Most Americans fly to Israel on US based airlines.
You are right about passports being required for international travel. However, passports are only one way of profiling. There are lots of other ways.
Let us stop the euphamisms and say what we mean. What is meant is grabbing men by the testicles and feeling up women's vaginas, especially if they are under 5 or over 80.
a bundle of lard on each airliner would serve as an excellent deterrent...
I contend the sophisticated behavioural screening that Israel uses would work quite well in the USA. Integrating this method with some less invasive form of scanners/metal detectors, a small fraction of the persons flying would need to be interviewed. The system isn’t nearly as cumbersome as its often made out to be. What it is, though, is effective without strip-searching grandmothers who are obviously not intent on harming a plane full of people.
But this goes against the new world order/globalist model of making us all into sniveling slaves who when the government (or anyone in a uniform) says "jump" we fearfully respond with "how high?"
Also i just read about how the underwear bomber - apparently glossed over (below from a UK paper):
In an extraordinary twist which will increase concerns over security failures, an American lawyer claimed he had watched at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport as Abdulmutallab was assisted by a 'second man' as he tried to board without a passport.
Kurt Haskell, who was standing in line with his wife Lori on Christmas morning, said the Nigerian was with a man aged about 50 of Indian appearance in an expensive suit talking with the ticket agent.
Mr Haskell said the second man claimed Abdulmutallab was from Sudan and had no passport.
The ticket agent referred the men to her manager down the hall, and Mr Haskell did not see Abdulmutallab again until after the failed bombing.
If true, the claim would represent an astonishing breach of security at a major international airport and a flagrant disregard of both U.S. government and airline policy.
U.S. authorities did not comment on Mr Haskell's claims but Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano admitted on U.S. television that the aviation security system had 'failed'.
And we are supposed to lose our rights because they failed? The fact is this has two benefits. Getting us used to our loss of basic liberties and a moneymaker for Chertoff and his cronies and who knows who else.
I'll invoke Ben Franklin - who admonished us long ago"
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Yes, it must be rick based approach, with biometric (retina scan, etc) pass through for those who have been clear with background checks, etc.
Different levels of risk should be dealt with by different procedures.
The last, and highest risk group should be strip-searched.
What’s going on today isn’t about security, it’s about control and surrender of your Constitutional rights.
It must be stopped, or the Constitution is laying dead before your eyes!
Several good points about the difference between the Israeli situation and our own (number airports, travellers, etc.) Also very good point about shifting responsibility to either airports or airline companies. That has interesting implications because insurance regulations (for airport and airline) might bear the main burden of determination and payout for loss. I don’t see why both couldn’t be involved.
A number of good suggestions have been made. While we might not endorse (as Americans) a government issued ID. However, airports and/or airlines themselves might issue their own ID checks, retina scans, fingerprinting, background checks for frequent travelers. Perhaps a kind of passport for internal travel.
As for the infrequent traveller, some of the Israeli methods might be employed at time of ticket purchase (which is frequently in advance of travel). Such questions as where/why are you travelling. With whom. Etc. And documentation submitted via email. When the traveller arrives then the Israeli type questioning might be implemented to verify the traveller’s identity.
Dogs should also be employed at big airports because as made clear in many discussions neither the xray scanners nor the intrusive body searches can find “embedded” explosives. However, the dogs (I think) would be able to sniff such substances even inside a body. (They sniff cancer.)
I don’t think any ubiquitous system can be as effective as a myriad of local and corporate unobtrusive traps each with their own motivation for security, i.e., they pay if they fail (you know that capitalist stuff). Example, a small mid-Western airport keeps images of travelers. A daughter visits her mother a few times a year in a neighboring state. She has an ID from both originating and destination airports. She checks in. ID scanned and photo while quick interview (Israeli style) “Hi, Ms Smith, going to see your Mom.” “Yup.” Goes through the normal (as we now know it) metal scanners. (She’s not carrying.) Everybody happy. Pass. They know her and other frequent flyers in their area. They will be particularly alert to a new person.
Big city lawyer. Travels frequently in major airports for clients, depositions, court appearances, various destinations within US. Travels 3-4 major carriers. Has been background checked, fingerprinted, eye retined. Has ID issued by his usual airline companies (per their insurance, security regime.) May purchase tickets long or short before departure. Shows up to window. “You’re off to Detroit for business?” Photo, retina during chat. “Yup.” “OK press the button for fingerprint ID. Have good trip.” Passes metal detectors. Gets on plane.
The infrequent traveler. I’ll bet these cover 10-20 categories. Sport events. Funerals, Weddings, conventions, holidays. At time of ticket purchase one could produce some of the evidence for travel (a la Israel) sports ticket, obituary, wedding announcement, convention papers, etc. Any of the insuring agencies airport, carrier can then do their own random validation of email submitted paperwork in interim before departure (early booking will get better deal because of time to screen) (email because you’re either buying it yourself online or you’ve got an agent who is). This individual will have little longer interview probably depending on what has been submitted.
Infrequent flyers would also be able to apply for “travel permts” through say the passport office. Background, retina, fingerprint.
I don’t know. Just thinking. Gotta go walk the dog.
For instance, the white married businessman with 3 kids, who has lived in the same house with the same wife for 17 years and has 15 bizillion frequent flying miles is NOT likely to blow up the plane, nor is his wife or 3 year old son.
Screen this guy and let him pass with nothing more intrusive than a finger print scan. The same is true for his wife and small children. Do a check on this guy, his wife, and small children every 5 years.
Ah!...But the problem is that whites would be far more likely to pass pre-screening that minorities.
Exactly!
A totalitarian regime controls its people by controlling access to:
** food ( Have you seen the news on the new FDA law?)
** medicine (Obamacare)
** TRAVEL
** education and jobs
So?... What happens when there is a terrorist event at a mall or truck stop? Will we all need screenings or “papers” to enter a mall, leave the state, or use and interstate?
I have harped on this since I have become a member of Free Republic. Our nation's citizens first learn to be good little collectivist drones by attending collectivist government schools run by people collectives ( Oops! school boards).
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