Senators say U.S. slow to arm pilots

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | April 8, 2004 | Audrey Hudson

[neverdem]

Sens. Jim Bunning, Kentucky Republican, and Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, introduced the bill before the Easter recess to force the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement the Federal Flight Deck Officer program the way Congress intended.

Mr. Bunning said the legislation "will take down the barriers TSA has thrown up, and will help make our skies more secure."

[neverdem]

BANG

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[marktwain]

Boxer sponsered this! Boxer!? She must be really scared. I wonder if it has a chance of passage. Bush really needs to dump Mineta.

[TomasUSMC]

All this talk at the 911 commission about how 911 was unavoidable. Rice and Clarke both saying it and both lying about it. The truth is that if either Republicans or Democrats had armed pilots or put armed Marshals on flights, 911 WOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED.

Sure, it would have needed 20,000 marshals but then thats peanuts compared to the cost of 911.

You needn't have had any intelligence at all. Just common sense and the guts to do it. Hijackings were going on since the 70's.

Spys and Intelligence gathering is useless if you lack the will to exploit it.

[Travis McGee]

BANG!

This is a perfect example of federal priorities and institutional values.

The fedgov would prefer to shoot down a loaded 747 with a missile from an F-16, than see armed pilots. Why? Because the F-16 pilot is a member of the US military, and in the National Command Authority chain of command.

The airline pilot, even if he is military trained and trained and qualified to fire pistols, is not in the fedgov's chain of command.

It's all about control.

[henderson field]

"Slow to arm pilots?"
That's because they're not really interested in air safety.
If planes were made safe by armed pilots, can you imaging how many bureaucrats would lose their jobs?
No more job-for-life!

[Zetman]

About time they did this!! I cannot believe how long the foot-dragging has gone on. It is almost as if the government WANTS there to be another hijacking. The airlines themselves are also opposed to arming pilots, and I cannot understand why (probably because they are more afraid of being sued than they are of losing another flight to terrorists). Who knows?? Maybe the airlines were using their massive lobbying power to entice the TSA into dragging their feet?? One can only guess at what has been happening behind the scenes. Either way, I hope this new legislation will put and end to all the procrastination.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If Bush wanted the pilots to be armed, they would be armed.

[neverdem]

If Bush wanted the pilots to be armed, they would be armed.

I agree. This isn't the only time that W and the pubbies seem to be slaves to corporate masters. Consider open borders and immigration policies for cheap labor, and policies that enable the coal industry to continue mercury and arsenic pollution.

I'm not against business, but bending over and spreading your cheeks is another matter.

The pubbies get my vote only because the rats are basically uninhibited socialists, but they don't have the balls to say so.

[Celtman]

It's all about control.

Bingo!

[Travis McGee]

bttt!