Posted on 07/22/2007 7:09:20 PM PDT by RDTF
It's what you have to do when you fly - use X-ray machines, metal detectors, and deal with liquid restrictions in your carry-on luggage. You know the drill.
Security checkpoints are just part of travel these days. They're supposed to keep us safe, so we use them - but not all of us and not all the time.
We've discovered a 4.5 hour time frame each night when virtually anything can be brought into the secure side of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. There's no metal detector, no X-ray machine, and it's apparently not a problem.
Afraid to show her face, one long time Sky Harbor employee talks about the security most people don't see.
Lisa Fletcher: "You're telling me Sky Harbor's not safe?"
Employee: "I'm telling you Sky Harbor's not safe and hasn't been for a long time."
It's what we discovered in the middle of the night - TSA agents going away, and security guards taking over. It's 4.5 hours - every night - when an employee badge becomes an all-access pass.
Night after night, our hidden cameras captured what security experts tell us is a disaster waiting to happen.
The X-ray machines were off, the metal detectors were closed, and bags with unknown contents were carried to the secure side of the airport where the planes are.
We watched as a security guard let people with purses, coolers and suitcases walk right through - bags unchecked.
The process thanks a very long time to fire any Federal worker here in Bethesda, MD.
“If airport screeners unionize, sensitive security information could be leaked and the federal government might not be able to respond to threats of terrorism, according to a U.S. Transportation Security Administration document.”
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_112762.html
I long ago gave up expecting competence and accountability from government officials but Chertoff still stands out as an clueless buffoon.
THANK THE DEMOCRATS:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-02-28-tsa-union-fight_x.htm
“WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress are pushing to let airport screeners unionize for the first time since the government took over aviation security after the 9/11 attacks.
Their effort has provoked a clash with the Bush administration and Republican lawmakers that could scuttle attempts to enact one of the broadest homeland security bills since 9/11.”
Frankly, this is old news.
I was the terrorism analyst hired by Phoenix’s KPHO TV several years ago (post-9/11) to conduct an extensive VA (vulnerability assessment) on Sky Harbor with the I-Team (Morgan Loew) at Channel 5. Within minutes I led the I-Team to the first security breach of many, including a broad-daylight infiltration of a huge tunnel under Sky Harbor’s runways. The governor and security officials went berserk when the story aired, of course. Sadly, little if anything has been done since.
Bob Newman
President & CEO
Workplace and School Security, LLC
www.workplaceandschoolsecurity.com
So, following the same logic, if you see some bad guys doing suspicious things, you should call the media rather than Homeland security. Sorry, but the logic escapes me.
Perhaps HS is inept, but also perhaps some local TSA supervisor made an independent very bad decision and needs correction (read firing), but the media can only call attention to thr problem rather than correct it.
I'm not your personal researcher.
In my office, we've fired 4 employees in the past 3 years and another is in the process of being fired and my office is considered small in the agency.
It all depends on the agency and the infraction/crime. Sometimes it's fast, some times it's slow.
Considering that you can't discern the difference between a gap in security and the identification of bad guys, I'm not surprised that logic escapes you.
WOW, since you work for Homeland Security, and YOU advocate going to the media rather than reporting things to HS, I am very scared.
“gap in security and the identification of bad guys,”
Bad guys get on a plane...Is that not a gap in security??
They will be held accountable.
Nonsense. Judging from TSA’s initial response to inquiries (yeah, right, whatever) and its response afterwards (SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!), such reports are the only way to get these problems fixed.
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