By E. Roberts Musser –
Hearings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. have been hurriedly convened, as public outcry has mounted over the latest Transportation Security Administration (TSA) outrage at a small Florida airport security checkpoint. A 95 year old woman, battling the final stages of leukemia, was given an extensive 45 minute pat down. What happened next is still somewhat in dispute, but does not reflect well on the TSA. According to the victim’s daughter, “My choices were to remove the Depends [adult diaper] or not have her clear security.” A spokesman for the TSA insists upon review of the incident their agents acted “professionally, and according to proper procedure and did not require this passenger to remove an adult diaper“.
This followed a recent occurrence of “kiddy gate-rape”, where a 6 year old child was subjected to a very invasive pat-down that went viral on YouTube. The poor tot burst into tears and asked her mother if she had done something wrong, once the ordeal was all over. The actual pat-down procedure can be viewed at: link
I watched a recent hearing held in Washington, D.C. on C-Span, the public television channel that features Congressional testimony. The indignation from Congressmen appeared very justified, since the TSA representative seemed evasive, unapologetic, and singularly uninformative. This public servant kept pointing to a large spiral bound report he brought with him, explaining it was a blueprint of some sort, to be used by individual airports as they saw fit. Somehow that was supposed to explain away the audacity and inappropriateness of TSA “gate-rape” incidents. The actual hearing can be viewed in its entirety at: link
One of the problems TSA is struggling with is the April 2, 2010 directive they received from the Obama administration. It advised TSA to scrap racial profiling. In consequence, the rigid strategy of TSA is to treat every passenger precisely the same. With such short-sighted policies in place, children and grandparents are being “gate-raped”. Meanwhile a Nigerian man recently passed through airport security on an expired boarding pass that belonged to someone else. See: link. In another recent episode, a taser gun was found in the seat pocket of an airplane, and no one knows how it somehow managed to get through security.
There seems to be no level of common sense being used by TSA agents or the federal government. A security expert from Israel speaking at the hearing suggested the United States do the following: 1) real risk assessment based on information received about passengers prior to arrival; 2) the interview of high risk passengers; 3) better checks on baggage and their handlers. The idea is to focus on “people” (passengers, baggage handlers) rather than “items” (what people are carrying/handling). Because Israel is a much smaller country, and more used to invasive and lengthy security techniques, their system in totality would not work here. But certainly components of it could be extracted and used, if our nation wants true security and not just the appearance of it.
There was an extensive discussion at the hearings regarding the use of imaging machines versus explosive-sniffing dogs. In fact an impressive demonstration was actually given at the hearing on just how effective the use of sniffer dogs can be. It was also pointed out canines are the chosen method of security used by both the Pentagon and Amtrak trains. And it would seem the employment of sniffer dogs for security could be significantly cheaper and more effective than the imaging machines. As it so happens, these machines will not be able to detect the latest wrinkle – surgically implanted explosives. Certainly sniffer dogs are less invasive than the imaging machines, or thorough pat downs by overly zealous TSA agents. And properly educated canines can be trained to sniff just about anything, including cancer in patients.
However, the TSA is considering purchasing yet another expensive technology – face-recognition equipment and software (biometrics). I guess the use of dogs just isn’t high-tech or “sexy” enough for the TSA. Besides, no government official or their friends will benefit financially from the use of dogs, as they most likely will with the new face-recognition system. Remember the Chertoff connection? Chertoff was the former Director of Homeland Security who strongly recommended the federal government purchase imaging equipment. He then promptly retired, forming a consultancy organization, the Chertoff Group. It’s client list just so happened to include the very manufacturers of the imaging equipment he had so vigorously suggested (and which the federal gov’t did, in fact, buy).
As it turns out, the TSA is trying a pilot program for frequent fliers called the “Trusted Travel Program”. It will only be available on certain airlines and in specific airports. Passengers in the program have to give extensive biometric and other relevant information, not to mention pay a hefty fee. Once in the program, “Trusted Travelers” can sail right past the normal invasive security measures the rest of us have to suffer through. In other words, the wealthy business traveler will not be subjected to “gate-rape”, while the rest of us have to put up with its indignities. It’s comforting to know former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was recently “gate-raped” – because of his two hip implants. Is this really what we want our government to be doing to our harmless senior citizens and vulnerable children?
Lesson to be learned: Passengers need to keep putting the pressure on the federal government to be more reasonable in its security measures. Passengers want real, common sense security, not just the illusion of it.
Elaine Roberts Musser is an attorney who concentrates her efforts on elder law and aging issues, especially in regard to consumer affairs. If you have a comment or particular question or topic you would like to see addressed in this column, please make your observations at the end of this article in the comment section.
“One of the problems TSA is struggling with is the April 2, 2010 directive they received from the Obama administration. It advised TSA to scrap racial profiling.”
Does this surprise anyone?
“better checks on baggage and their handlers. The idea is to focus on “people” (passengers, baggage handlers) rather than “items” (what people are carrying/handling).”
I worked over 30 years for an airline and had access to the gate areas. In all those years I was checked maybe 2 or 3 times before entering the gate/ramp area.
“…,if our nation wants true security and not just the appearance of it.” A couple of thoughts ,ERM. The chicken hawks, who brought you the phony “War on Terror”, only cared about appearances . Since the days of horse drawn coaches, the only real security on public transportation has been the will of the passengers to resist ne’er-do-wells . Complain at the airport and you are likely to spend many hours in the security office with people in control of your future who are otherwise qualified to collect tolls or ask if you want that “supersized” . On a practical note, when traveling by air, Sending everything ahead to your destination,(I usually use UPS or Greyhound), wear as little clothing as practicable, and if pulled out of line, act surprised and contrite . (It seems to disturb them if you assert any sort of right to unfettered travel argument.) Get everyone’s name, rank and organization and then publish your charges in every blog and paper you can . If you make your accusations public, be prepared to find yourself on the “NoFly”list .
Elaine
Thanks for this article. I do not have any proposed solutions, but I do have two personal experiences that point out the myth of our current security practices.
1) About five years ago ,my very frail, post surgical 88year old mother, in a wheel chair because she could not stand for more than a couple of minutes unsupported was selected by random number for not one, but two pat down searches before being allowed to board a plane here in Sacramento. Now, I understand the possibility of explosives being planted in clothing, but two pat downs including partial removal of clothing within 20 minutes ?
2) About one year ago, I flew from Sacramento to Seattle carrying a rather large hand bag with multiple internal compartments which I had not used for several years. I breezed through Sacramento security with no problem. Not so on the return trip from Seattle where the handbag was found to contain a large unidentified metal object. On manual inspection of the bag, it turned out to be a hunting knife given to me by a friend years earlier and completely forgotten.
Using common sense, the security agents correctly concluded that I was not a terrorist threat and allowed me to board,sans obviously lethal weapon, with which I had flown from Sacramento to Seattle without detection.
These episodes have not led to an increased feeling of safety from our highly intrusive and obviously ineffective security measures.
People need to seriously stop flying to protest this BS. Save the planet, shrink your carbon footprint, and tell the TSA where to put it.
If you put up with these Brown-Shirts you encourage it to continue. Video conference whenever you can.
Only a change is US foreign policy will really make you safer.
Because of the “granny gate-rape” incident, and the outrage it has generated, there is a call by U.S. Congress for the TSA to change tactics. It would appear the trend is going to be towards installing a biometric system, and checking passengers lists prior to arrival at the airport. The idea is to lessen the need for overly intrusive pat-downs. Whether this will happen remains to be seen.
To medwoman: Your experiences so vividly illustrate why the current system is ridiculous, and ineffective. I would also point out that one of the huge points made at the hearings is that passengers themselves have been the biggest factor in preventing terror attacks, from the 9/11 Flight 93 in which passengers brought the plane down before it crashed into the Capitol as intended; to the shoe bomber who was tackled by passengers.
I would certainly vote in favor of dogs. People who have a problem with dogs could certainly choose a scanner or a pat down. Those of us who love dogs and live with them are quite used to having various body parts invaded by cold, wet noses. Excellent article, Elaine.
Great article Elaine.
In a long security line at Denver International Airport on Monday, I said very loudly: “well at least we took out Bin Laden for causing us this grief.” I received a lot of head nods and a bit of applause.
Other than profiling, here is a practical solution coming our way… paying for a background check to be recognized as a “Known Traveler”. [url]http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/07/airport-security[/url]
At least we have Yukari Mihamae fighting for our rights – we need to send her around to more airports. Yukari knows how to apply pressure.
[quote]I would certainly vote in favor of dogs. People who have a problem with dogs could certainly choose a scanner or a pat down. Those of us who love dogs and live with them are quite used to having various body parts invaded by cold, wet noses. Excellent article, Elaine.[/quote]
I am a dog lover, and know just how intelligent and effective a dog can be. Our dog (who has since passed on unfortunately) could “hear” our specific car coming from almost a block away through a closed door. Dogs have an amazing sense of hearing and smell. Let me relate a story to illustrate:
A police person was doing a demonstration of a cadaver dog (bloodhound), to a group of civilians out in the woods, putting the dog through its paces with some planned demonstrations. There happened to be a creek bed nearby the demonstration area, and the dog seemed to be getting quite ornery, because it kept pulling its leash towards the creek bed. In disgust, the trainer finally let the dog have its head for a few minutes, despite the embarrassment the dog was “acting up”. The dog headed straight for the creek bed, and gave all the appropriate signals that a body was there. The dog appeared to be absolutely certain. Because the trainer trusted the dog implicitly, he called for backup, and a search operation was mounted. Sure enough, a body was located, buried under the creek bed in about two feet of water.
There are also dogs who are trained to smell cancer, that can have a better success rate than X-ray machines. Dogs were used in mine detection during the Viet Nam war, with a high success rate. The use of dogs is an old tried and true method, that I think is way underutilized.
In the demonstration I watched at the hearing, the dogs used were labrador retrievers, who have an excellent sense of smell. They also have a great temperament – very friendly and non-threatening. I was absolutely convinced, after the demonstration, they should be used as an adjunct to all the overly fussy, invasive, and pretty much ineffective security measures being used now. You just can’t fool a well trained dog very easily…
[quote]At least we have Yukari Mihamae fighting for our rights – we need to send her around to more airports. Yukari knows how to apply pressure.[/quote]
From the Wall Street Journal: “The Transportation Security Administration last week withstood a court challenge to the constitutionality of its airport full-body scans, as we reported.
But can TSA withstand Colorado resident Yukari Mihamae?
The 61-year-old was arrested in a Phoenix airport last week, after allegedly grabbing and squeezing the breast of a TSA agent, according to this report from Fox News in Phoenix.
“The female became argumentative and refused to be screened by TSA staff,” the Phoenix Police said in a statement. “The suspect admitted to grabbing the TSA agent and continued being argumentative.”
Mihamae was arrested for suspicion of sexual abuse, but she was later released from prison and allowed to return to Colorado. No charges have been filed.”
[quote]In a long security line at Denver International Airport on Monday, I said very loudly: “well at least we took out Bin Laden for causing us this grief.” I received a lot of head nods and a bit of applause. [/quote]
LOL What a great line!
[quote]I worked over 30 years for an airline and had access to the gate areas. In all those years I was checked maybe 2 or 3 times before entering the gate/ramp area. [/quote]
The expert from Israel said this is one of the biggest security gaps that needs to be addressed…
I vote for dogs.
My pooch Mason can smell a rat a block away…
[img]http://www.cscdc.org/miscjeff/mason1.jpg[/img]
To Jeff: What a cutie! Mason is my kind of dog!