TSA chief likely to face lawmakers' questions on pat-downs, body scans

CNN ^ | 17 Nov 1089 | CNN Wire Staff

[SkyPilot]

Washington (CNN) -- The head of the Transportation Security Administration will likely get a pat-down on air-travel security measures as he testifies before Congress on Wednesday morning.

The appearance by John Pistole was scheduled before controversy broke out over the past week about the agency's full body scans and pat-downs. But protest movements about the searches make such questioning likely when Pistole testifies about his agency's security efforts before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Hero pilot Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger on Tuesday joined the opposition to heightened airport security procedures, which critics have called invasive.

Sullenberger, who landed a crippled US Airways jet on the Hudson River last year, said the use of full-body pat-downs and advanced imaging scanners for airline personnel "just isn't an efficient use of our resources."

Federal transport authorities say the machines are a safe and necessary security precaution, especially following recent airline terrorism attempts.

[Merlinator]

I hope you are right. I have fired off letters to my representatives about this outrage. I work for an airline and I see this TSA BS all the time. I hope national opt out day Nov24 shuts down airports across the country and gains momentum and creates total chaos for John Pisshole and Nazipolitano

[PA-RIVER]

If I fly from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, its a 6 hour trip. That include early arrival drive time, Parking, security groping, waiting in line, delays.

If I drive straight to Pittsburgh, its also about 6 hours. I split the drive with my wife. We take two breaks. No big deal. We save enough money for the hotel.

[Sarajevo]

There is a rider in the 2002 law that allows airports to opt out of the TSA after two years on an individual airport basis.

Does that law require that airports replace TSA with a similar organization? If so, what would their hiring standards be?

There's no sense in it if the abuse will just continue with the same employees under the moniker of another alphabet-soup organization.

[Salgak]

I’m told Auschwitz was a VERY efficient camp.

I’ll take Liberty instead, thank you VERY much. . .

[bvw]

Pete King said something interesting about the x-ray scanners too — that they could pick up bombs inserted in body cavities — but then that means, imo, either that they are higher power than has been said officially, or that the operators can dial up the power. Neither situation is acceptable to me, nor should it be to anyone.

I seem to remember reading recent anecdotal reports from people wearing rad badges who said they dosages the badges show is higher than expected. Here’s who you do a basic test — take a penny and tape it to an unexposed z-ray film, and carry it with you through the scanner.

[PA-RIVER]

We should just sign wavers, be handed billy clubs and be on our way. When Mohammed jumps out of his seat, we beat the snot out of him until we get to the gate, making sure every inch of his body is black and blue, then shove a club up is butt and down his throat. I think this would be effective deterent for Mohammed.

I'm an opt-out for two years now, and damn proud of it.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You can make it go big and global by having a savvy Public Relations/Media person alert ALL MAJOR FOREIGN PRESS stationed in the USA well before 24 November, and issue interviews about that day, and press releases/fact sheets in various languages. Once the word spreads worldwide that American citizens are rising up, it will give the foreign press impetus to report on the issue itself...which will then cause a chain reaction of foreigners witholding travel to the USA and in some cases foreign governments issuing, through their diplomatic agencies, “worldwide travel advisories” to their nationals about intrusive US methodologies in play. This thing has a great potential for going BIG in one week, if done right. I believe, from what is now rumored, that the Japanese TV press is already doing some hidden camera work at ORD and/or other US airports to show the TSA abuses and plan on airing it in Japan to millions who watch, many whom might otherwise consider traveling to the US on business or tourism. They will go elsewhere for vacations, or teleconference for business, instead. Our economy does not need that right now, they need business and tourism, but we are talking about the Obama Administration which wants to not only remove freedoms for Americans, but also do further damage to our fragile economy as it is. Brilliant, guys.

[csmusaret]

Mr. Pistole is just following orders from "Pat" Napolitano:

[AmericanInTokyo]

If true (about Muslims getting an officially stated “pass” on the TSA grope), it is a violation, then, of the Equal Protection Clause provisions of the US Constitution, for it submits one group of people of one religion to preferential treatment by public authorities, based only on their religion, which and wherein it does not extend to non-members of the religion the same courtesy and protections, and thereby is discriminatory, illegal, and unconstitutional.

[jazminerose]

That is not a current photo. TSA doesn’t wear that uniform anynmore.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Its already going viral in Japan. LINK HERE

It is highlighting, in Japanese, the Johns Hopkins study that these airport machines are not safe and can be connected to skin cancer. It shows a photo of machine, and then the text of the JH study in Japanese. CNN Japan this morning is also now running the story in Japanese, it is spreading in Japan, they are as a people, VERY sensitive people about "radiation" (no pun intended) as well as having images of their private parts on public display, especially in a foreign land. Particularly female Japanese travelers, who bring tons of yen/cash for shopping splurge US tours, will most likely now stay away in DROVES I predict if this kind of story spreads, and will stick with other countries to visit.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Well, as the bionic man, I have a different little problem. I have a new knee ... solid steel I’m told ... cool. So I go up to the scanner and guess what they see ...YIKES! a bionic knee. YOU MUST NOW BE PATTED DOWN ... and so I get “both” treatments. There is no way they’ll let me through that scanner with my iron knee and I’ll be forced to the pat down. I’d rather do the scanner ... no choice for me.

[Never on my watch]

Not true. We are against the process, period. One step at a time...

You and other conscientious pilots may feel that way, but it is not what the Union spokesman said on Laura Ingram. She pressed him on it and he gave the phony 'we are for reasonable security' answer. He refused to say it the entire practice needs to stop. This 'one step at a time' approach to stop this nonsense is unacceptable and self serving.

[savedbygrace]

That’s the spirit.

A couple or three years ago, I drove rather than flew on a business trip of 700+ miles. On the way there, I stayed overnight in a motel about halfway there. On the way back, I just wanted to get home, so I drove the entire 700+ miles in one very long day.

[aragorn]

The ELITES continue to see every and all Americans as a real threat

If "the ELITES" continue down the path they have been on, it may turn out that they have very good reasons for this point of view..

Seems to me that they are working quite diligently to create the very situation that they claim they are so concerned about. The phrase "self-fulfilling prophesy" comes to mind.

Of course, this administration told us in no uncertain terms who they considered to be the enemy very early on, didn't they?

[rockinqsranch]

"The Community Organizer has zero political skills. All he ever had was a lapdog media, Soros seemingly unlimited financial backing, and a cult of personality among the stupid."

Please forgive me the liberty with your post. ;)

[Hulka]

Exactly!

[Tzfat]

You and other conscientious pilots may feel that way, but it is not what the Union spokesman said on Laura Ingram

First of all, my Union does not have any official role. What they are doing is starting a process to get official attention on the issue. How much attention would they get from the TSA if they came out and publicly shot down back-scatter scanners? None. Step at a time from we pilots is only one avenue. If you don't want our help, so be it - but adding our EXPERT voices to the mix will help EVERYONE.

[PA-RIVER]

Unless your going from California to the East Coast, you can pretty much opt out.

We did the Disney trip two years ago, before the “Muzzie panty Bomber”. So we are done with the big expensive trips and the groping and the “No Muzzie Profiling” that's going to get people killed.

We plan on a 1500 mile round trip vacation next summer, on the ground, dignified, cheap, and safe.

[Never on my watch]

...If you don't want our help, so be it..

That seems a bit contentious on your part, although I may be reading it too critically.

My point is that this is not a fight for an incremental roll back. The X-RAY or Grope policy is WRONG for all US citizens, pilots and travelers alike. To lobby for a change that only affects a class of citizens (pilots) is essentially saying it is OK for the traveling class. They need to lobby against the injustice of this across the board, or their righteous indignation rings shallow.

The government made a huge power grab, and it will be perfectly happy negotiating selective steps to roll back the requirements, and still have accomplished the power grab.

That being said, I don't think the pilots (or military for that matter) should have to go through any of this. They have background checks and are entrusted with the care of their passengers.

Having biometric identification as the Union calls for is fine with me, but that is not the issue at hand. If our government really doesn't trust the pilots, or the airlines, there are bigger concerns.