Posted on 09/07/2002 8:36:08 AM PDT by forest
The frequent flyers of Capitol Hill seemed to have made a very large mess of the security program at airports. Only overpaid politicians can think this stuff up -- and keep a straight face while admitting it. The liberty of every traveler is abused, but is security any better? Not hardly.
According to the USA Today a few weeks ago: "Checkpoint screeners at 32 of the nation's largest airports failed to detect fake weapons -- guns, dynamite or bombs -- in almost a quarter of undercover tests by the Transportation Security Administration last month."
In another article, USA Today reported: "Even at airports where the TSA has already appointed federal security directors -- essentially the police chiefs of airport security -- problems persist. Among the test results from the 32 airports that USA Today reviewed, 10 have federal security directors. Screeners at those airports failed to detect potentially dangerous items 23% of the time -- a rate consistent with screeners at airports without security directors."
What we find by interviewing commercial airline pilots is even worse. For instance:
Guns and knives are still getting on aircraft. One man admitted (after the fact) that he had two little 22 pistols on a flight. The reason pilots know was because he was asking how to get them sent back home. Rightly so, he feared taking them on his return flight.
At the Cincinnati airport, a commercial airline pilot was out on the tarmac looking at something when he spotted a very drunk man wandering around. No one knows exactly how he got out there. But, there he was, wandering between the commercial aircraft -- the aircraft parked at a busy terminal full of passengers.
A commercial airline pilot flew into Dullas. He had some sort of business with security. It took 15 minutes before he could find someone in security who spoke English. Apparently, Hispanics and Orientals run security there and few speak English well enough to hold a conversation. His logical question was: "How can they even talk with each other in the workplace?"
According to at least three commercial airline pilots, security is different at most airports throughout the country and they really do not know what to expect day to day. All sorts of very strange things happen. The list of "stupid security tricks" is getting quite long and at least two professional flyboy wags are considering compiling what could be a very humorous book on the topic.
Now we learn that these security companies are padding their bills. After all, government is paying now; so there isn't much accountability.
Airport screeners seem to be amusing themselves by doing more complete searches on just about anyone except those from the groups with established terrorists. Eighty year old grandparents get targeted for special searches. Even little children. And, of course these airhead screeners target flight attendants and even pilots -- because they know the aircraft crews are not allowed to complain, lest they lose their jobs.
Last month, AP reported that some female travelers have complained that security screening at Raleigh-Durham International Airport has amounted to deliberate groping and sexual harassment.
Airport Screeners even ordered a mother to drink her own bottled breast milk to prove it was not poison or a bomb in the bottles.
Before boarding a recent flight out of the Traverse City, Michigan airport, a professor of philosophy from the University of Alabama grumbled mildly about the violation of his person and property when his family was subjected to a "random" search for no apparent reason. The bright lights in the screening department there threatened him with arrest, detention, and being permanently banned from air travel within the United States. Apparently, it is now against the law to say anything whatsoever to these jerks.
Last week there was a report that two armed marshals, with guns drawn, detained a man because he was acting a little strange and seemed to be looking through other people's luggage while on a flight. The Transportation Security Administration said that one of the marshals held his gun on all other passengers in the cabin because some passengers ignored their orders to stay seated.
Apparently that's all it takes nowadays: One person acts a little strange and air marshals threaten everyone on board at gunpoint. "If people would have stayed in their seats and heeded those warnings, that would not have happened," said TSA spokesman Robert Johnson in Washington. "It's our opinion that it was done by the book."
There's the problem in a nutshell. First, no one broke any laws or was a danger to the aircraft or the flight crew. Second, even if there was a perceived element of danger, police do not get to threaten or arrest everyone in sight.
Besides, the Captain of the ship is supposed to be the one in charge. But, for some silly reason the administration refuses to arm pilots. Which means, the Bush administration is now to the left of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on arming airline pilots. Even that very liberal, gun grabbing Democrat co-sponsored a bill by conservative Bob Smith (R-NH) that lets qualified pilots carry firearms to stop airborne terrorists. "I think this is the first time I have ever stood with Sen. Smith on an issue that has involved guns," Boxer said at a news conference. "I believe that pilots who are carefully trained and want to carry a gun in the cockpit should be allowed to do so."
The House voted 310 to 113 on July 10 to let pilots voluntarily fly while armed. The Senate did not bother to approve the issue this time around until last Thursday. When the Democrats finally let the matter come up for a vote, it won 87-6.
It gets worse, though: The Associated Press reported in an Aug. 12 story that, previously, only President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld may give an order to shoot down a civilian aircraft. Two Air Force generals, Maj. Gen. Larry K. Arnold at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, were also given the authority after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Sure. Don't allow the pilots "captaining" the ship the ability to be able shoot an active terrorist. Instead, have the military kill all aboard if there is a suspected terrorist. . . . . That's comforting.
Last week, the administration leaked that it may permit arming a token 2% of commercial pilots. Again, that's silly! Anyone who can be trusted to fly an aircraft full of people can also be trusted to carry a concealed weapon while in uniform. Any pilot who wishes to carry concealed should. Let the uniform be the permit. When out of uniform, on layover, pilots can leave their sidearm in the hotel safe.
It appears that something went a little haywire with this airport security thing. Based on the published accounts, it looks like Keystone Cops with a bad attitude are running the show. And, it's getting worse, not better.
Apparently, Hispanics and Orientals run security there and few speak English well enough to hold a conversation.
Now we learn that these security companies are padding their bills. After all, government is paying now; so there isn't much accountability.
Apparently, it is now against the law to say anything whatsoever to these jerk screeners.
The Captain of the ship is supposed to be in charge.
The House voted 310 to 113 on July 10 to let pilots voluntarily fly while armed. The Democrat controlled Senate did not bother to approve the issue until Thursday, when it won 87-6.
Sure. Don't allow the pilots "captaining" the ship the ability to be able shoot an active terrorist. Instead, have the military kill all aboard if there is a suspected terrorist. . . . . That's comforting.
The unqualified airport screening personal, and, more importantly - the regulations that has them concentrate on Old Women - 84 year old Medal of Honor winners, 9 year old kids - is a total embarrasment and will destroy what is left of the airline and Travel industry.
Give me a day or two and I might come up with something.
You guessed it. A 80 year-old grandmother.
RDU was a cakewalk compared to Tampa, where the heavily foreign accented woman rammed a scanner wand up into my crotch, then said I insulted her when I screamed and told both her and her supervisor she was disgusting. When I called the FAA Hotline to complain, the office was closed, and the voice mailbox was full.
As I related the story to anyone who would listen (yes, I got on the flight) the woman next to me said that security guard had done the same thing to her. This passenger said it was the first time she had flown since 9-11, and she thought that was normal.
Maybe she just thought you were a NautiNurse! ;) (ducking...)
All the passengers in line were voicing their sentiments of disgust and amazement out loud (including me). We were not happy campers.
otherwise, maybe they don't think my red hair is real?
That nasty excuse for a female security guard was every bit the pervert that I called her...
I agree 100%. I have an aversion to anyone prying into my business as it is and I can have a sharp and sarcastic tongue. I would be asking for trouble because I don't take being humiliated in stride.
I passed up last fall, right after 9/11 what would have been a wonderful opportunity to see Europe, as well as gvinig me several extra weeks' work. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Fortunately it was not a mandatory trip or I may have found myself without a job. I am not fond of flying anyway, prefering driving whenever possible. Now, I have the attutude that if I can't drive I don't need to go. It isn't fear of terrorists so much as aversion to the invasive and ineffective tactics being used by incompetent and often non-American security screeners.
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