Posted on 12/27/2009 7:15:46 AM PST by reaganaut1
In the wake of the terrorism attempt Friday on a Northwest Airlines flight, federal officials on Saturday imposed new restrictions on travelers that could lengthen lines at airports and limit the ability of international passengers to move about an airplane.
The government was vague about the steps it was taking, saying that it wanted the security experience to be “unpredictable” and that passengers would not find the same measures at every airport — a prospect that may upset airlines and travelers alike.
But several airlines released detailed information about the restrictions, saying that passengers on international flights coming to the United States will apparently have to remain in their seats for the last hour of a flight without any personal items on their laps. It was not clear how often the rule would affect domestic flights.
Overseas passengers will be restricted to only one carry-on item, and domestic passengers will probably face longer security lines. That was already the case in some airports Saturday, in the United States and overseas.
The restrictions will again change the routine of air travel, which has undergone an upheaval since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001 and three later attempts at air terrorism.
Soon after the attempt on Friday, travelers at airports around the world began experiencing heightened screening in security lines. On one flight, from Newark Liberty International Airport to Little Rock, Ark., flight attendants kept cabin lights on for the entire trip instead of dimming them for takeoff and landing.
The limits, which brought to mind some of the most stringent policies after the 2001 attacks, come at a difficult time for the airline industry.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The TSA is the stupidest organization on the planet.
Millions of person hours lost on close-the-barn-door-after-the-horse-escapes tactics.
I fly all the time and if I wanted to do mischief, it would be super easy to defeat the security precautions in place, no matter what they do.
I 2nd what you said.
Probably involves pat downs of WWII vets and little old ladies. Just as long as we don't (gasp) PROFILE.
Oh yeah, maybe DHS can put some of those "potential terrorists" (conservatives, gun owners, Iraq vets, etc.) on a watch list or something.
That will do the trick.
If Profiling is not among the new restrictions, then we will simply have another device brought on board sometime in the future.
Profiling MUST be done!
All nekkid flights. Baggage flies on a follow up plane.
What idiocy. Someone could just do their mischief with 90 minutes left in the flight.
Why?!
Napolitano says “the system worked.”
there shouldnt be NEW restrictions he already violated old ones....I think this was allowed to happen, they knew the guy couldnt pull anything off successfully
Unpredictable huh?
Say, how long would it take our esteemed TSA Al Quaaeda suporters to dump all the “new” security measures on the internet so our “friendly” Al Quaeda comrades can figure it int their plans?
"Unredacted TSA Manual Leaked Online [posted, not leaked]
CBS) It was a security breach and a big embarrassment for the Transportation Security Administration. A secret manual that tells airport screeners around the country how to do their jobs somehow wound up on line for all the world to see."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403296/posts
“I think this was allowed to happen, they knew the guy couldnt pull anything off successfully”
Huh?
I hope they plan on passing out Depends since you will no longer be able to use the bathroom on flights less than 90 minutes.
And Napolitano works for the stupidest administration ever.
The response no potty break one hour before landing. I bet that will do it ...
Everybody with a functioning brain can see that this was a huge breakdown in US intelligence. Like that’s really hard to figure out ... Terror suspect is on your government list, father tells State Department he has suspicions about his son, but government cleared him to fly on plane, gets on plane, tries to set off bomb.
What’s this the new ‘respect for Islam’ that Obama was talking about?
Government responds by denying potty breaks an hour before landing. Well what did you expect from BamBam and his dumb loons.
And the most troubling, how do we know he wasn’t just a testing, probing, trial run.
I think it’s a really good idea to repatriate the Yemenis held in GITMO back to Yemen, don’t you. So far BamBam has returned what 12 or so back to Al Qaeda in Yemen.
I know. I was watching Greta last night and she could not contain her disgust at the way this is being handled. My daughter has to take off her shoes, yet they ignore a number of flags redder than Rudolph’s nose about this guy.
Now, instead of sensibly profiling high risk passengers, they want to do some stupid stuff that will inconvenience everyone. like not giving blankets to the passengers because this dude was messing around under his blanket (and, hey, who doesn’t).
Anyway, I’m thoroughly disgusted with Them.
More idiocy from the government.
I, and probably most other FReepers, could straighten this situation out in five minutes.
re: terrorism attempt Friday on a Northwest Airlines flight
So it’s only terrorism if the attack succeeds in downing the flight? This was an act of terrorism, period. The outcome doesn’t determine what it’s called.
Its been fifteen years since I’ve been onboard an airplane. I’m sorry for anyone who has to fly.
It used to be fun but that was long ago and far away.
This is so depressing.
We don’t fly often, and all this bullsh!t is why.
We were going to renew our passports this year, but now I’m thinkin’ twice.
This is totally idiotic. It’s going to make flying so difficult and unpleasant that people will do anything to avoid it, and it won’t stop terrorists at all.
As you point out, better enforcement and more stringent policies relating to people already under suspicion (and, IMHO, any Muslim or person from a Muslim country) would help. Also, if they’re worried about explosives, just have everybody go through that explosive detection device. It would slow things down a bit, but it would be nowhere near as unpleasant as sitting there like a stone, unable to hold anything in your lap (presumably, this also means a book or newspaper), not having pillows or blankets, and not even being permitted to go the restroom.
This is complete idiocy.
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