Originally Posted By Mr X ***Doctor Dean's reporting notwithstanding, they really do more than just a metal detector - they reveal bulk and bundles being stashed underneath clothing*** And terrorists being terrorists, they will find away around this new measure (particularly since it's gotten so much media attention). The only thing this is going to "discover" is some kids trying to smuggle some weed...and when they do will the TSA say "go ahead"? It's nothing more than another element of "comfort", and as was mentioned WAY upthread there is NO way to guarantee safety. You want these machines, and yet employees can get into the airport while avoiding the whole process. A simple hand-off plot would defeat the whole thing. ***If something is tucked up inside a cavity, that won't show up on a scanner. But oh well, a 90% solution is better than none at all*** Now that these machines are in place and irradiating everyone, don't you think the bad guys are already thinking of ways to stuff objects where the sun don't shine? And then what? Are you really okay with cavity searches? I'm not.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I can't say I'm comfortable with cavity searches but I also know that drug mules are stuffing quite a few things into their cavities. I don't know how far a stretch it would be (no pun intended) to go from "drug" to "explosive". Not that I want to open this pandora's box...but...profiling might be a necessary evil. Say what you will about the new security procedures but we haven't had an American plane brought down by a terrorist since 9/11 and I can't believe that is simply because terrorists don't want to do it anymore. I suspect the new measures have been a deterrent. And, just because people are going to always try to cheat the system doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying to improve the system.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I'll be doing my first scan or pat tonight since these started. I just want to get on the plane and get home so I'll do what I gotta do.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I have travelled by plane several times in the past month and I have yet to be scanned or patted. I don't think everyone is subjected to it. In my case it appears to have been random.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>If something is tucked up inside a cavity, that won't show up on a scanner.<< And since terrorists know these scans are in use, do you think they'll risk just hiding something under their clothes? Doubtful. I mean, fine, go ahead and scan. It'll make things a little more difficult for terrorists. It'll perhaps catch some amateurs, so that's good. Since cavity searched of every passengers is impractical, hopefully they'll work on some kind of x-ray system that is efficient and truly does work at finding everything, everywhere.
Originally Posted By gadzuux If they do, the usual suspects will say that it's too intrusive and unamerican. I'm half remembering an old schwarzenegger movie - maybe Total Recall - where they had panels that you walked by and on the other side a skeletal image of the person walking could be viewed in real time. Hollywood trickery, but I fine idea. >> The only thing this is going to "discover" is some kids trying to smuggle some weed << That's already happened. >> don't you think the bad guys are already thinking of ways to stuff objects where the sun don't shine? << That's already happened to - it was some kind of assassination plot of a middle eastern politician. It only succeeded in blowing the bomber to bits and grossing out everybody else in the vicinity. Apparently you have to remove the explosive device before detonating it for it to be effective. Somebody learned that the hard way.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Seen one of new scanners but didn't go through it. Did ATL's normal security run through. Did get the heart beating when they pulled a security drill as we were getting all our belongings. EVERYBODY FREEZE! NO MOVEMENT!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Did get the heart beating when they pulled a security drill as we were getting all our belongings. EVERYBODY FREEZE! NO MOVEMENT!*** Oh, Jesus. And people still think this isn't Kabuki Theater designed to keep citizens in a state of fear and confusion!? You guys all need to go back and read 1984 again. And again. And again. This is ridiculous! ***>> The only thing this is going to "discover" is some kids trying to smuggle some weed << That's already happened*** I'm sure. And is that their job? Are they officially cops now, checking us out for any sign of criminal activity no matter how unrelated to aircraft safety? Talk about mission creep. It would be comedic if it weren't so damned serious, 5 TSA thugs have Little Joey Zitface up against a wall asking him about his little baggie of fun, while Muhammad Akbah bin Killin strolls by unmolested and boards his target. Brilliant.
Originally Posted By Mr X How long did that drill last anyway Lis. How long did you remain "frozen"? What did they say afterwards? (just curious)
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///You drive next to them(unsafe drivers)/// Ouch!!! Nice counter punch.......enough to render me wobbly in the ring. ///Barboy, I think you are one of the cooler posters around here/// Thanks-a-million, Bud. ///But on *this* issue, you are letting your irrational fears get the better of you./// I sort of tacitly admitted being irrational(at the very least I leave room that I might well be guilty of that) on this security stuff to mawnck already. ///IF you are so worried about terror, WHY would you NOT be damned sure that the TSA should be, right this minute, patting down bomb babies and radiating Grandma at the local Amtrak stations and the Bonanza, Greyhound, and Dragon Bus terminals?/// Ya, I see what you're saying. But I would like to point out that terrorists would love, just be tickeled to death, to blow a plane out of the sky or crash it somewhere like the NY Stock Exchange. What can I say, they love passenger jets and embassies. They love the planes because 215 US citizens blown up in midair over the US mainland is worth 1,000 or more on the ground. Why? Because people in the US freak out over sex offenders lurking everywhere, shark attacks(all 10 of them lat year) and plane crashes, especially terror related plane crashes......it's the 'American way' Taking out 1 plane goes a long way.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But I would like to point out that terrorists would love, just be tickeled to death, to blow a plane out of the sky or crash it somewhere like the NY Stock Exchange*** As I mentioned earlier in the thread, though, that just ain't ever going to happen again. A plane used as weapon, I mean. First of all, the passengers would fight back...they'd never get control of the plane. Secondly, they'd never get onto the flight deck these days even if they somehow managed to kill all the passengers. As far as bombings are concerned yes, they happened before and they'll happen again. One way or another, the bad guys will manage to get a bomb onto a plane. Now, what does all that security theater have to do with it? They can just as easily get a job as an airline employee and smuggle their bomb onboard that way. And all that really happened thanks to the TSA show was that grandma and her family got harassed and humiliated before getting blown up. Maw is right, there are no guarantees.
Originally Posted By mawnck <--------beginning to suspect I'm the only person on here who's actually been scanned by one of those things. A big reason I'm opposed to it, that.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, I will be the next time I leave Japan, like it or not. They are mandatory here, no optional groping allowed.
Originally Posted By gadzuux I've been scanned - at MIA - no big deal - stand on the yellow footprints with your arms up - okay now stand on the green footprints with your arms up - have a nice day. I don't see where the problem is. I assume someone somewhere was looking at a screen image similar to ones I've seen in online news articles. This person can see the contours of my body - for a moment - and then the next person steps up. This person looks at these images all day long, and it's about as arousing as staring at x-rays of internal organs. I'll say this much, I'd certainly rather step through the scanner than have someone run their hands over me. But even then, I'm not going to make a scene, and I'm certainly not going to come away from the process feeling sexually assaulted or violated. As ridiculous as that sounds, I've been seeing quite a few hysterical reports from people who are waaay overblowing this.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I don't mind the scanner itself, and I doubt anyone would get their jolly's looking at the pics. I just think the entire process is worthless and a waste of money. How many of these would-be terrorists have they stopped BEFORE they got on the plane? I think that count is right around zero, because you know TSA would make a big deal about it if they did. Instead, we've had many close calls where it was either fellow passengers stopped the terrorist or the weapon malfunctioned. So why the heck continue the charade?
Originally Posted By Pal of Minnie I flew out of Orange County with my boyfriend on Thursday. I was directly behind a man at the first TSA screening where they ask for your ID. He was in his mid 30's dark hair could pass for someone from the mideast. He had not checked in at the counter but had his rolling carryon and computer with him. He was asked for his gov issued ID and the man DID NOT HAVE ANY! He went into this long story about how his daughter had put it in his coat and he had left his coat at home-etc. The TSA (not too smart looking I might add) called his supervisor over and she did not look any smarter-just meaner. He told the story again-no one takes him out of line to run any kind of screening-no one uses a computer to check anything outabout this man. The supervisor just gives her OK to let him by. He is not subjected to a pat down or body scan-just the usual metal detector and the scan of his luggage. He made it through security before I did-I had my ID-did not fit any profile of previous bombers, put my 2 DL bags through screening and a DL keychain makes TSA come unglued so they pulled my DL bag and put it through another machine. The man was long gone out of the whole security mess before my boyfriend and I ever left the area. I will take TSA and the homeland security people seriously when they stop acting so STUPID!
Originally Posted By Mr X Wow. I can't imagine even WANTING to fly somewhere without my ID, you need it practically all the time while traveling! That's a scary story, honestly. Almost sounds like someone who was probing for weaknesses.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Some fliers with medical conditions call new airport security procedures 'humiliating' A longtime Charlotte, N.C., flight attendant and cancer survivor told a local television station that she was forced to show her prosthetic breast during a pat-down. Cathy Bossi, who works for U.S. Airways, said she received the pat-down after declining to do the full-body scan because of radiation concerns. The TSA screener "put her full hand on my breast and said, 'What is this?' " Bossi told the station. "And I said, 'It's my prosthesis because I've had breast cancer.' And she said, 'Well, you'll need to show me that.' Bossi said she removed the prosthetic from her bra. She did not take the name of the agent, she said, "because it was just so horrific of an experience, I couldn't believe someone had done that to me. I'm a flight attendant. I was just trying to get to work.">> And many of you are SUPPORTING this crap? When the liberals cave in to tyranny we have truly lost all hope.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And many of you are SUPPORTING this crap? When the liberals cave in to tyranny we have truly lost all hope*** Agreed 100%. The terrorists already won a long time ago, this just puts an exclamation point on it.
