TSA hubris...and pushback

T.S.A. officials declined to discuss their checkpoint screening procedures, but sent an e-mail statement: “T.S.A. is a counterterrorism agency whose mission is to ensure the safety of the traveling public. To that end, T.S.A. deploys the latest technologies and implements comprehensive procedures that protect passengers while facilitating travel.”

In other words, “We have terrorism in our name so we can do any d#@* thing we want with you and your body.” We subjects should be grateful to the benevolent, blue-shirted despots that rule and protect us. What is freedom without safety?

(Brad)

Update on November 9, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Beltwayspeak: “Backscatter Back-story” 

White House Office of Science & Technology Policy says not to worry about the scanner safety, they’re doubleplus unbad. Heck, I’ll bet they might even prove to be beneficial….for the oncology industry anyway.

Update on November 9, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Update on November 10, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Update on November 10, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Flight attendants push back:

According to a union email obtained by ABC15, it tells flight attendants if they opt out of using the body scanner through security and are required to undergo a pat-down to ask the pat-down be conducted in a private area with a witness.

“We don’t want them in uniform going through this enhanced screening where their private areas are being touched in public,” said Volpe. “They actually make contact with the genital area.”

Some passengers have told ABC15 they’ve already encountered flight delays due to crew members having problems with TSA employees. - ABC15

—

The new searches are done with screeners’ hands sliding over a passenger’s body. However, the searches require screeners to touch passengers’ breasts and genitals. And that’s prompting some fliers and the American Civil Liberties Union to question the policy’s intrusiveness and effectiveness. - USA Today

My 69-year-old mother, a very infrequent flier, was traveling yesterday. As much as it pained me to do so I told her to make sure her pockets were empty and go through the scanner rather than suffer this indignity.

Comments

[stevenshytle]

I just do not understand how, by declaring that they are an counter-terrorism agency, their actions do not violate the Fourth amendment. It is amazing.

[DannH]

Some conservative religions are saying their followers should not go through the body scanner and should be padded down by a member of the same sex instead. Does anyone know of a religion that states you must be padded down by a member of the opposite sex? If not I might start one.

If I am going to be padded, groped, fondled, and nearly strip searched I may as well enjoy it. Besides during the body cavity searches, that are probably next on the list, I would rather have slim female fingers doing the job rather than the fat fingers of a male who used to be a prison guard.

I had an experience in Chaing Rai Thailand last August that was similar to Monte's, padded down by an attractive female. I would have gone through again if my wife had let me....almost needed a cigarette when it as done.

[Dan]

Benjamin Franklin wrote the following in 1775-------

" THEY WHO CAN GIVE UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO OBTAIN A LITTLE
TEMPORARY SAFETY, DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY NOR SAFETY '

Just something to ponder.