Can chatting help prevent terrorism? TSA's new 'talk tactic' policy

MSNBC ^ | 29 Dec 2005 | Scarborough Country

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

MSNBC TV's Joe Scarborough breaks down the TSA's new security initiative: Can body language help bust terrorists? Will this lead to racial profiling? Guests include Michael Smerconish, radio talk show host/author; and Steve Emerson, Terrorism Expert

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A new policy at the Transportation Security Administration has high hopes that talk can help prevent terrorism.

Screeners at 40 airports are going to start to question travelers to try to identify potential terrorists. Passengers are going to be questioned, while screeners observe their behavior and their body language. Those failing this talk test will undergo extra physical screening and more questioning.

But is this just more of the same from the P.C. police, who are trying to avoid criminal profiling that would actually help identify who the real terrorists are?

Radio talk show host Michael Smerconish, who is author of “Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Air Safety,” and terrorism expert Steve Emerson joined MSNBC's Joe Scarborough on Thursday to talk about the new plan and the state of airline security.

[snip]

[MineralMan]

"Philadelphia and Chicago. Philly might just be the worst."

Haven't been through Philadelphia, but I was just through O'Hare, and noticed nothing of the sort you're describing, and I went through security a couple of times there. I fly American Airlines.

The TSA folks wished me a Merry Christmas and everything. They all smiled, too, and seemed quite competent.

[AbeKrieger]

Try US Air and see if you get similar results.

[MineralMan]

"Try US Air and see if you get similar results."

No, thanks. I have too much invested in frequent flyer miles to switch.

[Oztrich Boy]

Trying to obey all of the stupid TSA regulations is almost impossible,

"Almost"? Still loopholes in the system then.

[Cementjungle]

Were you able to pick up any Soviet-era souvenirs?

Yes, I got some very nice painted wooden items, tshirts and lots of lapel pins from the time... "Friendship Pins" with the Soviet and American flags on them. I also still havc a very stale pack of cigarettes called "Sputnik" with cool space age photos on the box. Of course I have loads of memories, like of the water vending machines where there is a glass that's used by everyone who buys a drink of water... drink the water then put the glass back in the holder in the machine!