IT'S ALL AIRPORTS THAT NEED A SECURITY REVIEW

SSAF USA LLC ^ | 7-8-02 | Nick Ashton, Doug Cogan

[doug from upland]

July 8, 2002

It’s All Airports That Need a Security Review!

Since September 11, 2001, it would be expected that American airports would be scrambling to improve their security. To some extent they have, however, it is only a select few that have implemented exceptional top to bottom security and, in some cases, gone further than the government suggested or required.

One of the immediate directives from the federal government on 9-11 was that all short-term parking that was within 300 feet of a terminal must be shut down and cars moved further away. Tow trucks were removing vehicles because of the perceived danger that a car bomb might take down a terminal. Fewer people were allowed inside terminals due to security concerns, the lines and wait time were almost intolerable, and the American public suddenly found flying to be very, very burdensome.

Airport vendors such as the parking concession, magazine sellers, restaurants, and the shoeshine stand have all been suffering economically. Airline travel is down. Unfortunately, some airport executives have not yet realized that it is not the job of an insurance company or Uncle Sam to protect their investment. Protecting an investment is an individual responsibility.

The recent shooting deaths on July 4 at LAX finally have awakened some who have been asleep. Many television and radio news broadcasts finally mentioned the magic word in defending airports from terrorism -- "perimeter." Yes, defense always starts at the perimeter. Europe has known that for many years. America is just beginning to learn.

Cable television’s MSNBC explained in great detail how security works in an airport. SSAF tips its hat to those reports who finally get it and realize that Americans can learn from those Europeans who have been facing terrorist threats for over three decades.

This airport graphic appeared on the MSNBC website and is a very good learning tool to illustrate the elements of airport security. Using their numbering system, we will take you through those elements of security that have been tried and tested and that have been successfully implemented at the safest airports around the world.

Although it may be sound trite, it is nevertheless true that prevention is better than cure. When we are dealing with the precious commodity of lives, we should not be reticent about using those methods that have proven to work.

COMPLETE ARTICLE AND PICTURES --- 10 specific areas that need improvement and how they can be improved.

[doug from upland]

Any errors in grammar are Nick's, not mine.

[Charlotte Corday]

Right, then we require the passengers to show up naked, strap them all into straight jackets, proctoscope them at the ticket counter and require a Thorazine IV drip during the flight. After all, if it saves just one life, it's worth it, no??

Watch for the boom in teleconferencing if this "solution" goes into effect.

[doug from upland]

Please, if you want to make a foolish reply that is not helpful, take it to another thread. Some of us actually take this seriously.

[Betty Jo]

http://www.TSA.gov

Will take you to the new "TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION"

This is the new federal entity that is going to protect our airports and such.

The site tells you how to become a new federal employee at airports.

You only need a GED.

You do have to speak English.

[doug from upland]

Yes, we have a long way to go to make this all work.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[Charlotte Corday]

Doug, you seem to believe that the more delay, harassment, and indignity inflicted upon the law-abiding passenger, the more "secure" they will be. I suspect the only passengers whose air travel risks will be reduced owing to the scheme you present will be those who decide to drive or teleconference rather than fly.

If our air transport system is brought to its knees by the slow, self imposed strangulation of ill-advised "security" measures, I take that very seriously indeed.

[doug from upland]

"Doug, you seem to believe that the more delay, harassment, and indignity inflicted upon the law-abiding passenger, the more "secure" they will be."

I guess I will reply with my original response to you.

[takenoprisoner]

Airport security is a hoax...there ain't none. Furthermore, the security needed to protect us has been compromised by a popular theory guarded as political correctness. How so? Well for starters, terrorists are typically middle eastern men of Arab/muslim descent between the ages of 17 and 40. Now the gender and age may be subject to change, but the Arab/muslim descent is a given. Are you with me so far?

Here's the fix to make air travel safe. No Arab/muslims need apply to fly commercial. These guys need to fly private charter til it can be determined beyond any reasonable doubt that their kin has become civilized and fit to fly with normal and average like minded civilized folk.

Any questions?

[Betty Jo]

No sir!

[Uncle Fud]

What's the definition of acceptable risk here?

Suppose we do all of what you propose, and two more people are gunned down (while waiting in a long line, in the rain) right outside the new, extended security checkpoint? How far do we extend the perimeter then?

Or suppose the bad guys then take out 500 people in a theatre or mall? Do we perimeter-ize every theatre and mall in the country? At what cost in tax dollars and lost business?

[doug from upland]

We can never stop all terrorist murders, just like we can't stop all the gang killings in L.A. We do, however, have to prevent mass murder in the terminal and prevent a bomb from taking down a terminal.