Airport screeners say getting up close and personal is no fun

Lexington Herald-Leader ^ | 25 November 2004 | BY COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON

[concretebob]

In the old days, the indignities of air travel involved intrusive elbows from seatmates and toddlers kicking your seatback.

In the last few years, they included removing your shoes to get through security and having your nail clippers confiscated.

And now this: full-body pat-downs - including bra checks - for people who set off metal detectors or are unlucky enough to be randomly selected.

[concretebob]

I have one word for that post

DITTOS

[Sola Veritas]

"The solution to our Muslim jihadist terrorist problem is making our enemies realize that we will kill as many of them as is necessary to preserve our smallest convenience and to prevent the least indignity."

I tend to agree. They started this war. We need to give them so much war that generations will pass before they ever appeal to it again. Shock and awe does work...you just have to use for a longer time than was. Of course, it is easy for me to say that right now because I am too old to serve and don't have any children of military age. I would hope that if I was younger or had children of military age, that I would still be so gung-ho. I do question my own courage.

[FreedomCalls]

Your TSA screeners hard at work sniffing bombs out from the shoes of wheelchair-bound 80-year old men.

[LibertyRocks]

However, if it was a female relative (mother, wife, sister, daughter, neice) being subjected to this nonsense.... Well, I don't think I'll ever fly again - or at least not with a bra on! If they touched my private parts even with the "back or side" of their hand I'd be in jail for assault.

[Sarajevo]

Have you paid atention to the public address system at Houston Int'l? It states that you can be arrested for making statements which are found "offensive".

This is a violation of Freedom Of Speech, yet, in the name of "security" the fascists at TSA seem to get away with it.

I will avoid flying as much as possible. I refuse to put myself through such demeaning tactics.

[Sarajevo]

Would you prefer the orange jump suit or...

[celtic gal]

Turn about should be fair play..they try to pat me down and they get it in return...

[endthematrix]

LOL! I guard an FAA facility where TSA trains. They went to the airport (going off site) and returned, having to be screened. As trainees, they are visitors. Oh, the trainer/staff leader was not pleased!! Bitch and complaints, blah, blah. A calm explanation of why we had to search them was returned with, "This is ridiculous!"

You guys know TSA is not security cleared prior to employment, right?

[Heatseeker]

The problem is that these searches do not and will not stop a bombing, they just tick off the public.

I agree that determined and well-financed terrorists can find ways around the searches, but any constriction of their ability to smuggle something dangerous onboard is helpful, IMO.

I've flown an average of 2-3 times per year since 9/11/01. However I don't think you need to have many comprehensive pat-downs to know what it's like.

I agree also that it may be more unpleasant for female passengers. But consider the increasing use of female (and child) suicide-bombers by the Palestinians and others.

[SolutionsOnly]

"What's going to happen when the citizens get fed up with this and stop flying?"

I already have! Unless headed or Alaska or need to cross an ocean I avoid airports like the plague. With Satellite radio, and Audio books on CD, driving is actually a great way to preserve your dignity.

[BlackbirdSST]

Maybe I don't get this post, because the way I see it we are at war. We were attacked.

I'm the first one to defend civil liberties, but like I say we are at war.

OK, so we're at war with ourselves? Got it! Blackbird.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[concretebob]

You ARE terrific!!! Good Morning..I have to work an hour or so but will be back.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

The best airline security measure --

Fly naked.

Robes provided by TSA.

No carry-ons

Um no....sorry...I've been subjected to too many "two-seater" people (if you know what I mean) on flights to consider that even remotely humorous. And I'm a "slim" 6'7" 235 lb guy ;)

[Erik Latranyi]

However, if it was a female relative (mother, wife, sister, daughter, neice) being subjected to this nonsense....I get mad. Especially so since I know it is a foolish waste of time and is actually counter productive.

YOU know it is a waste of time, but the screeners do not know it is a waste of time.

Two women blow up two Russian jets and you still get upset when women are patted down?! Yeah, your ideas make sense.

[Erik Latranyi]

Your TSA screeners hard at work sniffing bombs out from the shoes of wheelchair-bound 80-year old men.

It think a wheelchair-bound man is a great place to hide explosives. You could hide them without his knowledge and detonate them remotely.

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin'! :^D

Thanks. And don't work too hard. :^)

[concretebob]

You could hide them without his knowledge and detonate them remotely.
You assume, of course that the owner of the wheelchair is going to leave it un-attended for the length of time required to implant the explosives so they can't be detected, wire the detonator, and program the trigger. You need to stop reading Tom Clancy.

[greasepaint]

How long is tractal passage of
orally taken explosives?
Passengers on airlines,
should be monitored, at least that long.

[FreedomCalls]

Two women blow up two Russian jets and you still get upset when women are patted down?! Yeah, your ideas make sense.

What about your side. You have two Russian jets blown up even though the women were patted down. Patting down is useless. A terrorist will always find a way to get around whatever security you put up -- unless you are looking for the terrorists themselves rather than wasting time looking for weapons.