quod erat demonstrandum
Posted on 07/13/2011 2:27:57 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
The Department of Homeland Security plans to spend a total of $1 billion on a controversial airport security program that, despite being in use for at least seven years, has yet to nab a known terror suspect or thwart a potential attack.
The U.S. government has already spent approximately $750 million on the Screening of Passengers by Technique (SPOT) program, which in part trains airport security officers to look out for "micro-expressions" of travelers that may betray nefarious planning, and plans to add another $254 million to the program in 2012, according to a report published today by the Government Accountability Office's Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues Stephen Lord. ABC News previously reported
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Reminds me a little of the joke about the guy standing on the corner in the middle of the city snapping his fingers. Friend says, “Waddya doin’?” Guy says, “Keeping the elephants away!” Friend says, “There aren’t any elephants in the city!” Guy says, “See? It works!”
This is a really expensive finger-snapping exercise, IMHO - maybe we could dial it back a little...
Colonel, USAFR
Eliminate the worse than useless DHS and turn airport security over to the private sector.
But, but, Napolitano said “the system worked” when a passenger subdued the underwear bomber dude on the plane on Christmas Day 2009.
In her mind, we can always expect that an alert courageous passenger will intervene when something happens. And such actions are part of “the system”.
What a boondoggle this TSA is.
This has not a thing to do with real security, it has to do with the Bozo POTUS/TOTUS being able to provide jobs for his voters!
If the private company is based on the Israeli model, I’m all for it.
$1 billion to look for micro-expressions, but heaven forbid we check out the 20-something muslim guy who just bought his ticket with cash, is traveling to Detroit in December and doesn’t have a coat, nor does he have any luggage, at all. Meanwhile, we’re looking to see if Grandma winces slightly as we run our hand under her breast.
not just the Airport program, all of The Department of Homeland Security hasn’t done a darn thing!
In a hearing today [7/13/11]before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Transportation Security Administration Assistant Administrator John Sammon was asked if the program has ever been successful in thwarting a potential terror attack. Sammon recounted the story of an Orlando man who was spotted due to irregular behavior before he was able to place a bag with explosives on the checked bag conveyor belt.
"So, one?" asked subcommittee member Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX).
But before Sammon could answer, [GAO official Stephen] Lord, who was also a witness, interjected and told the subcommittee the Orlando man was actually reported by other travelers and a ticket counter employee and had nothing to do with the SPOT program.
We should let the market decide the correct level of security. Had the passengers on those planes known that terrorists had switched from bombs and demands to certain death for all (I refuse to call murderers martyrs) those Muslim terrorists would have been attacked instantly.
Is there any passenger traveling that will tolerate a second 9/11 attack. On plane terrorism is over. I’d rather fight and die than just sit back and die.
We must go to great, ridiculous lengths to avoid profiling. We are so afraid of CAIR and cries of arab-phobia or islamophobia.
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Give travelers the chance to vote on whether they’d prefer a $5 reduction on every ticket, or a $5,000,000 death benefit if due to air terrorism, and I think the current system would come in third.
In 2012, my vote will go to the first candidate that promises ti fire Napolitano and disband the TSA
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