TSA Exposed Own Undercover Operation (Caught cheating)

N Y Times ^ | 2 NOV 2007 | Not Identified

[radar101]

The Transportation Security Administration touts its programs to ensure security by using undercover operatives to test its airport screeners. In one instance, however, the agency thwarted such a test by alerting screeners across the country that it was under way, even providing descriptions of the undercover agents.

The government routinely runs covert tests at airports to ensure that security measures in place are sufficient to stop a terrorist from bringing something dangerous onto an airplane. Alerting screeners when the undercover officer is coming through and what the person looks like would defeat the purpose.

But that's exactly what happened on April 28, 2006, according to an e-mail from a top TSA official who oversees security operations.

In an e-mail to more than a dozen recipients, including airport security staff, the TSA official warned that ''several airport authorities and airport police departments have recently received informal notice'' of security testing being carried out by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The e-mail from Mike Restovich, assistant administrator of TSA's Office of Security Operations, relayed an alert that described a couple who were testing security. The woman is white but has ''an oriental woman's picture'' on her identification card, it stated. ''They will print a boarding pass from a flight, change the date, get through security (if not noticed) and try to board a flight and place a bag in the overhead.''

[goldstategop]

This is really stupid. You can be sure Al Qaeda won't alert TSA officials they're coming.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[the invisib1e hand]

what’s the TSA going to morph into, under the next administration? The Brown Shirts that Couldn’t Shoot Straight?

[goldstategop]

DHS is one of the most incompetent and poorly run federal departments because of its mammoth size.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[phrogphlyer]

I hear they’re changing their name to the Airport Security Service.

[whd23]

And worst of all, their screening procedures don't work.

I recently flew from S. Korea to SFO where I had to pass through security again to make my connection to my domestic flight. Unknown to me, my wife had put a small, sealed, container of orange juice in my son's backpack (it was left over from the breakfast they served on the international flight). I had also forgotten that I removed my travel-sized hand-sanitizer from the 1 quart ZipLock bag to my laptop case.

I found both of these items after going through the "security" checkpoint.

[Nate505]

To their credit, they managed to get a juice box of mine that I forgot was in my backback. Because it might stain the airline carpet and all....

[Maynerd]

The wife of a colleage and friend of mine flew from SeaTac to Maine with a six inch knife in her purse. She has the knife for self defense but forgot to remove it prior to flying.

Within a few years the TSA will likely become unionized, thanks to the democrats, and probably no more effective than the minimum wage earners and illegal aliens that were staffing the checkpoints prior to 9/11. However, grandmas and children as well as the rest of us will have to remove our shoes and anything else they dream up.

[Not A Snowbird]

This occured eighteen months ago. I would like to think they’ve corrected this particular problem.

Why isn’t GAO testing them the way they test our ports? They sure don’t let us know they’re coming when they try to probe the land border ports.

[SubMareener]

Just remember that when someone tells you it is better for you if a federal department makes your health care decisions!

[goldstategop]

The problem is the federal government won't use profiling to detect terrorists because its politically incorrect. They could profile Muslim passengers and let every one else just board a plane. That would save a great deal of time and focus security checks where they would do the most good. The current system of checking every one makes NO SENSE from a security viewpoint.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[razorback-bert]

Last year I flew to Dallas with a TSA inspector, who said I was lucky, my airport had quality workers and good security.

[Not A Snowbird]

The problem with profiling is that the terrorists aren’t stupid. If they know we’re looking for middle eastern men, in a certain age group, they’ll recruit somebody else.

It’s like trying to stop the flow of illegals. Plug up one hole, and they gravitate to another.

[Sleeping Hampster]

But, wasn’t that profiling? But having the description of an arab muslim with ammo belt is not?

[goldstategop]

The key is profiling people - not things. You want to focus on how potential terrorists behave. We may need to adjust ethnic/religious profiling as circumstances warrant but its a vital tool. We cannot possibly stop every dangerous item from being brought aboard a plane but we can stop dangerous people from boarding a flight. To do that we have to get beyond obsessive political correctness that demands there is no difference between Muslims, Christians and Jews when it comes to who is most likely to commit a terrorist act.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Raycpa]

The current system of checking every one makes NO SENSE from a security viewpoint.

Yes it does. If we omit a group of people we increase the risk of that group to be targeted and we create a hole in our security that can be taken advantage of.

[Blood of Tyrants]

TSA - Thousands Sexually Assaulted

[Not A Snowbird]

You want to focus on how potential terrorists behave.

In that sense, I agree.

[sheik yerbouty]

Fire them all and hire new QUALIFIED people..

[goldstategop]

The indiscriminate checking of every one does not improve our security. Most people don't have to be searched. People who fit a likely terrorist profile should be questioned throughly and then searched if their answers to security officials' questions arouses concerns. The Israelis have been doing profiling for a long time and security is taken care of before passengers are allowed to check in for their flight. Doing that would cut down on the lines at our airports and obviate the need to check clothing, shoes and carry on items after passengers have checked in, which is the current practice.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus