Posted on 03/19/2005 3:07:58 AM PST by bd476
"Suggestions in a Rand security study are too costly to implement any time soon, officials say.
Despite warnings by security experts that long lines at Los Angeles International Airport are vulnerable to a terrorist attack, airport officials have concluded that the staff cannot be added to significantly shorten queues in the next few years.
Rand Corp. recommended last fall that airlines and federal officials hire more people to speed travelers from sidewalks and terminal lobbies into the more secure gate areas as the quickest and cheapest way to protect LAX passengers.
But in documents obtained by The Times, the airport's top official advised the City Council that a third more airline workers and screeners would be needed — an increase that's not feasible. And even if cash-strapped airlines could hire additional staff, there wouldn't be enough ticket counter space for them, airport officials said.
But Rand insisted that the urgency of reducing lines at the world's fifth-busiest airport remained.
"It's still the recommended thing to do," said Donald Stevens, a senior engineer at Rand and lead author of the Santa Monica-based research institute's September study.
Long lines at airports are "the single greatest vulnerability that we have in the domestic U.S. at the moment," said aviation consultant Billie Vincent, a former Federal Aviation Administration security chief.
The General Accounting Office released a report this week that said heightened screening procedures and truck-sized explosives-detection machines in airport lobbies — added after 9/11 — had created crowds that put passengers at risk.
"In the '70s, gangs in Europe entered airports and machine-gunned and killed people," said Stephen Van Beek, policy director for Airports Council International-North America. "Terrorists know if they did that today, it would be highly publicized."
The risk is acute at LAX, considered the state's top terrorist target..."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Ping.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Well, if you stop and think about it, I guess we can figure out where it goes, but they keep showing us their empty pockets. Ya think they have it in the bank? LOL!
Okay, I give up. Who is Willie Green?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
On several trips back and forth to the Midwest in the past two years, I was only asked to remove my running shoes in the Midwest, never at LAX.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Lets face facts, out malls, schools, churches and other businesses are all susceptible to terrorist attack.
That's why I always post the reminder on threads like this that we all need to do our part by being vigilant and reporting and suspicious activity to authorities.
As far as LAX, portable rockets make every airport vulnerable as well.
That's true, A CA Guy. Vigilance will help.
Stateside, IMO vigilance is our most important defense.
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