Posted on 11/22/2010 8:40:56 AM PST by tysonbam
Ben Franklin once said "Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." There is no quote more prescient in this age of terrorism. As we pack for the holidays and prepare to make the grueling trip to the airport and beyond ask yourself, "Do you want to be seen naked or groped?" While I prefer both, Americans are upset with these options.
The new airport scanners generate an image of the body sans clothing, thus the nickname, "porno scanners." Prudes are outraged. Travel warriors are worried about long-term effects from low doses of radiation exposure.
To add fuel to the fire the alternative standard pat down procedure has become more intimate. Travelers can expect sweaty palms to peruse their no-no places this holiday season. This elevates TSA workers to levels of intimacy previously only shared with a spouse or doctor. People don't like it.
These issues however, are secondary to the big question, are we safer? No.
The underwear bomber boarded his flight in Amsterdam en route to Detroit. The shoe bomber boarded his flight in Paris en route to Miami. Scanners and pat downs in the United States do nothing to prevent these events. These new intrusive protocols are expensive extensions of reactionary policy. After 9/11 we banned box cutters, scissors and nail clippers. Richard Reed caused our shoes to be x-rayed. The 2006 London airliner plot got liquids over three ounces banned. We need proactive security policy that effectively utilizes intelligence.
Ben-Gurion airport in Israel is known for its security ever since it was rocked by a string of Palestinian attacks in the 1970's. Passengers now progress through six tiers of security while the average wait time from parking lot to gate remains under thirty minutes.
The first tier begins when you approach the airport. Cars are stopped for a security check by armed guards and license plates are matched against a database of suspicious vehicles. Passengers are observed in the parking lot and as they approach terminal, looking for suspicious behavior. Some travelers have their luggage run through a magnometer to check for heavy metal items.
In the check-in area they are observed and questioned. Screeners look you straight in the eye and ask specific questions like, "Where are you headed? How long are you staying? Who are you visiting? What business do you have? Where are you staying?" The screeners listen for red flags in the content and tone of the answers while carefully observing each individual's demeanor.
Then the security with which Americans are familiar begins. Bags are scanned, metal detectors are used but shoes stay on and liquids are not confiscated. Lines are staggered and broken up to prevent bunching passengers in large groups which invite terrorists. The focus is on profiling behavior, travel information and previous experience to assess a threat.
There hasn't been a breach of security at Ben-Gurion in eight years and no serious terrorist incident in over thirty years.
We need to fundamentally change the way we handle security in America. Fancier, more expensive and intrusive equipment can't always be the answer. I shudder to think what happens when we face the rectal bomber.
Israel has an amazing track record and great template for the future of American airport security and there is no better opportunity than now to start implementing changes.
According to the Labor Department the unemployment rate for young veterans hit 21 percent compared to 16.6 percent of non-veterans the same age. These young veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan would be perfect for these security jobs. They have experience in unfamiliar territory spotting abnormal and suspicious behavior. Having put their lives on the line in service to our country there is no lack of trust or confidence in our veteran's ability.
What time could be better for our country to make the transition than when there is a surplus of experienced and qualified veterans to step in? Who better to stop the tyranny of intrusive government than our veterans?
At some point the answer to airport security has to stop being "more" and start being "better," otherwise we risk slowly giving up our essential liberties. Send your representatives a Christmas card and tell them how you feel about your new relationship with TSAnta and his little helpers.
Good Essay!
I’ve been wondering for some time why we don’t just sub-contract our airport security to the Israelis.
Just their presence alone would probably stop half the Mohammedan attempts to terrorize our air travel.
Obama would rather eat worms than order the TSA to adopt any Israeli operating procedures.
They won’t adopt Israeli screening procedures because they’d end up disproportionately stop too many Muslims from flying.
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