Author Topic: TSA, bottled water, and forest for the trees (Read 351 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** July 09, 2007, 03:59:51 PM »

Many moons ago, we had a thread about the TSA using judgment to do their job or being given a handful of specific mandates and told to follow them instead. I wish I could find the thread, because I predicted something that got pshawed by some folks that was just demonstrated.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=603177&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=7/9/2007

The story is about the feds doing a test and successfully getting the components for a demonstration bomb through the checkpoint while their bottle of water was confiscated. Back in ye olde thread, I predicted exactly this, saying something to the effect of "when you give the security people a list of items, their focus will not be to secure the plane, it will be to find these specific items and they will be less likely to actually catch the stuff that smart foes get through".

The bottled-water/beverages ban is asinine, and here's more evidence of why it does more harm than good.

Bodhi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2007, 04:20:19 PM »

Anyone with enough determination and sense has the ability to get something onto an aircraft.

jhookt · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2007, 05:02:47 PM »

good job!! you get a gold star for the day!! now unless you can tell me what the lotto numbers are going to be, your clarvoiance(sp) is worthless to me.

Chairboy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2007, 10:51:44 AM »

And now a positive development, ya smarmy bastahd:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com//id/19864658/

Newsflash:
The liquids ban isn't an effective deterrent, it distracts from the job of actually securing the passengers. Also, lighters are fine too.

Chairboy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:02:12 AM »

Quote

Lawmakers said that if Mr. Reid had used a lighter, instead of matches, he might have been able to ignite the bomb, but Kip Hawley, assistant secretary for the Transportation Security Administration, said in an interview on Thursday that the ban had done little to improve aviation security because small batteries could be used to set off a bomb.

Matches have never been prohibited on flights.

“Taking lighters away is security theater,” Mr. Hawley said. “It trivializes the security process.”

Sure wish I could find that dang thread...

wooley · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2007, 11:38:57 AM »

I predict the ban on liquids will never be lifted because airport concession holders have realized how lucrative it is for everyone to have to buy stuff air-side.

x0847Marine · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2007, 03:53:24 PM »

I dont know how true this is, but..

Truck driver dude I know has some low level security clearance to deliver directly to LAXs cargo area.

Hes says the TSA guys were talking about "terrorists secreting liquids UP in their bladder", like how athletes beat urine tests; force the liquid up the pee pee hole.. also discussed were the use of females, "explosives disguised as tampons", uh..ouch, and fake tampons being used to carry small amounts of liquids.

So I figure pretty soon we'll all have to go pee as a TSA agent watches, and the urine puck analyzes the contents... chicks will be watched as they insert a fresh .gov authorized tampax. Meanwhile Halliburton will be contracted to build "portable enema security pods" that will cost $1 billion each and go to a place usually reserved for the IRS.

john9001 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:08:49 PM »

i don't fly anymore, it's too "dangerous", of course driving is not much better, i might get a "routine traffic stop".

'getonthegroundgetonthegroundgetontheground'

Sandman · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2007, 10:01:42 PM »

The TSA exists to make the Department of Motor Vehicles seem courteous and competent.

Toad · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2007, 10:23:27 PM »

Airport secuity.

You have always been sold the sizzle and not the steak.

The only think different is that you are paying a bit more attention now and appear to be amazed that the old sizzle was.... just sizzle.

lazs2 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2007, 10:22:48 AM »

I have lost all desire to go to an airport to be treated like some froggie in an old black and white WWII film at the train station with all the nazis around searching and asking to see papers.

lazs

storch · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2007, 10:28:39 AM »

my solution is I haven't boared a commercial flight since 2001 and never will again. not from fear of flying or death but because of my intolearance of fools and foolish policy.

lazs2 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2007, 10:50:36 AM »

for once I agree with storch.

I have lost all desire to be treated like a spy in a WWII movie.

lazs