Anyone flying soon?

[GregC]

I'm pretty sure there have been. I expect most of them are exaggerations, but still, I would certainly feel uncomfortable with some random bloke running his hands up the inside of my thighs, regardless of whether he plans to touch my "junk" or not.

But in all honesty, I don't think that is the point. The point is that it's an unnecessary process.*snip*

That is a gigantically subjective statement.

So far, when pressed for facts or suggestions of alternatives, instead of a couple anecdotes and speculation, I'm not seeing much from the outraged.

Maki did suggest the Israeli system, but I don't think that's very workable in the U.S. Israel has just a few major airports. Training staff across the country in the Israeli techniques would likely be costly and very time-consuming.

 

[GregC]

Very well put! But instead we molest children and destroy colostomy bags.

It's a shame about that guy's colostomy bag and I hope the TSA staff who caused that feel terrible. But which children have been molested?

 

[burk48237]

Except that's not the terrorist's mission. The terrorist's mission is to kill us. A bit different.

And who cares if some TSA agent who doesn't know who you are or where you're from and is located in a room you will never be in sees a black and white outline of your "junk"? And let's not forget that the whole thing is voluntary- you can either go through the body scanners, request a pat down, or stay home. No one has a "right" to fly. But those who choose to fly have a "right" to be protected by their government. If the necessary security makes flying so embarrassing/degrading/uncomfortable/whatever for you, stay home. I'll enjoy shorter security lines and less crowded airports while gladly flashing my junk to whoever wants to see it. When did we become a nation of such scum sucking whiny babies that everyone thinks their junk is so damn special?

To answer your question it was in 1791 when a we ratified the Bill of Rights. It makes my junk damn special.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 

[JimmyM]

It would be. However, it was the father who took off the shirt, not TSA.
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The video was clearly titled to feed the Outraaaaage...

i'm ok with that. i'm outraged.

listen, let's not forget that it's not just the junk being fondled. i'm outraged that tsa can now see a perfect rendition of my body including the junk with their body snatcher machines. everyone has a right to dignity until it's proven they don't deserve it. this crap isn't making anyone safer. it's just a way to sell machines that earns our skeezy politicians some kickbacks.

 

[JimmyM]

It's a shame about that guy's colostomy bag and I hope the TSA staff who caused that feel terrible. But which children have been molested?

if your child has to walk through a machine that provides someone with a perfect rendition of their naked bodies including their privates, they have been molested imho.

 

[burk48237]

It's a shame about that guy's colostomy bag and I hope the TSA staff who caused that feel terrible. But which children have been molested?

Here's the case of a three year old daughter of a Chattanogga TN newsman. I'm sure Mandy was planning to take over the plane if she got the chance.

 

[sloasdaylight]

Pro. File.

 

[Simo98]

So far, when pressed for facts or suggestions of alternatives, instead of a couple anecdotes and speculation, I'm not seeing much from the outraged.

The alternative was there. We have been using it the past 9 years. As far as I can tell the system was working fine. All I can say is "If it 'aint broke, don't fix it."

 

[MJ5150]

......we would be much better off with fewer better trained-payed TSA operatives who profile and pick out suspects that way.

I'm with you burk. As far as I know, these are low paying jobs, so you will naturally attract the people who don't care about anything but getting paid.

-Mike

 

[JimmyM]

aha! just saw this on youtube:

"Guess who is making money off these machines--Former Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff

"Chertoff’s group represents Rapiscan, a California based firm “which until recently was the only company qualified to sell full-body scan machines to the TSA.” Last summer, “TSA purchased 150 machines from Rapiscan with $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.”

some stuff on youtube you have to take with a grain of salt. this turns out to be true:

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there you go. michael chertoff. scumbag playing both sides of the fence for monetary gain. i'm sure all his friends who helped him sell these machines got their "commissions," too.

it's always about the money.

 

[GregC]

Here's the case of a three year old daughter of a Chattanogga TN newsman. I'm sure Mandy was planning to take over the plane if she got the chance.

I saw a TSA staffer not doing a good job with a cranky kid, and I hope they were reprimanded. Molestation? I didn't see it. The father narrating the clip never said it was.

Oh, but wait: An uploader named "PoliceStateWatch" titled the video "TSA Molests 3 Year Old Child", so that's what really happened.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

aha! just saw this on youtube:

"Guess who is making money off these machines--Former Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff

"Chertoff’s group represents Rapiscan, a California based firm “which until recently was the only company qualified to sell full-body scan machines to the TSA.” Last summer, “TSA purchased 150 machines from Rapiscan with $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.”

some stuff on youtube you have to take with a grain of salt. this turns out to be true:

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there you go. michael chertoff. scumbag playing both sides of the fence for monetary gain. i'm sure all his friends who helped him sell these machines got their "commissions," too.

it's always about the money.

Yep. Figures.

 

[burk48237]

The inmates are running the asylum.

So we're in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they're going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can't take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I've had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You're not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I'm allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can't use it to take over the plane. You don't have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I'll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

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I feel a lot safer now, because I know that with the fine professional performance of the TSA there is no chance that the plane I fly on will be blown up by a colostomy bag or commandeered by prostheses weldings cripples or gangs of retirees with nail files or three year olds with nail clippers.

 

[Brad Johnson]

What alternate security measures do you suggest that are equally effective without violating anyone's imaginary rights?

Only go after people who don't look like them. Their rights count less if at all. Problem solved.


I'm enjoying this thread.

 

[Brad Johnson]

That is a gigantically subjective statement.

So far, when pressed for facts or suggestions of alternatives, instead of a couple anecdotes and speculation, I'm not seeing much from the outraged.

Maki did suggest the Israeli system, but I don't think that's very workable in the U.S. Israel has just a few major airports. Training staff across the country in the Israeli techniques would likely be costly and very time-consuming.

But isn't their outrage enough?


"Gate raped" and "molestation"... I haven't seen this much drama queenery in quite a while. Maybe I haven't been paying attention.

Does it even dawn on some folks that if terrorists know who'll be targeted they'll attempt to use folks who don't look like them? Is it really that much of a leap to imagine someone who doesn't fit a profile voluntarily or involuntarily being used as a mule?

Who ever said you'd enjoy a security check? Duh.

To look back at whatever pass/fail record there is for terrorist plots and pretend that the thing you don't mind is the reason it worked and ignoring everything else that was simultaneously in place is priceless.


Yes folks, you know you aren't the problem... but no one else knows that. So should we just trust you and only go after the people who look "suspicious"?

Of course. In the meantime, Hertz, Amtrak, Carnival Cruise Line, your own vehicle, Greyhound, Schwinn... lots of choices.



By all means give the TSA employees grief, after all they're the ones who came up with the policy. No doubt they're psyched about the opportunity to frisk all of you highly attractive people. If it hasn't dawned on some of you how stupid that is, to risk a federal offense, sweet... no doubt there will be some great incarceration/detainment tales... if you have the otherwise highly visible gonads to actually do more than just talk about it. I look forward to them.

 

[JimmyM]

But isn't their outrage enough?


"Gate raped" and "molestation"... I haven't seen this much drama queenery in quite a while. Maybe I haven't been paying attention.

i agree...you haven't been paying much attention.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

... Both did things, (buying one way tickets, frequent trips to Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan ) that should have kept them off the planes in the first place if the government had a minimal level of competence....

I have the feeling that this criteria set is pretty, uh, easy to work around.

What if the terrorist flies in from Burma? You're doomed!

also, jimmy, I love your new avatar. Just sayin'.

 

[JimmyM]

thx deluge! credit fu55ba55 with the making of it.

 

[Son of Sanford]

...except for a handful of you wussies who lay down like dogs for whatever the government tells you to do as long as it's your party who told you and not the other guy's party.

This is a VERY good point. It is pretty sad, but this appears to be the case with a lot of the responses. How many people showing support for this would be so supportive if the previous administration implemented it? This is a very reactionary security measure and not very progressive. I would have thought the people that prefer to wear that label would try to fit it. We should be looking for ways to stop the next probable method, not concentrating our efforts on looking at underwear. I am in agreement with the others that favor profiling. When targeting homegrown terrorism after the OK bombing, we were looking at a particular profile. The same should be applied here. This type of method is used all the time by law enforcement agencies. Not using here does not make sense. If we are callous enough to feel up or Xray the genitals of every passenger, why do we suddenly grow a conscience when trying to figure out who is more likely to bring a bomb on a plane? The suggestion that groups will attempt to recruit and use people that look different than the traditional profile is obvious. It also makes the incorrect assumption that profiling stops at how people look.

 

[Brad Johnson]

i agree...you haven't been paying much attention.

You're right... I tend to ignore misguided whining. The Recent Dennis Miller HBO special was so special in much the same way.