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1. Fact. In 2008 about 756 million Americans traveled on domestic airlines. I assume that they all went through TSA screening. As far as I know, there were no terrorist attacks that originated on U.S. soil. TSA must be doing a hell of a job.
2. Fact. Since 9/11, all attempted terrorist attacks via our airlines have originated overseas.
3. Fact. About 9 million passengers pass through Ben Gurion airport undergoing Israeli screening. It is considered the gold standard of air travel screening.
4. Fact. About 46 million passengers are screened at Las Vegas airport alone each year. Nationwide, about 756 million as mentioned above. Think we could fully apply Israeli methods to our system? Opinion: I think not.
5. Fact. Since and including 9/11 we have either uncovered or prevented or lucked out on numerous terrorist plots against airline travel or domestic high value targets. Sixty two of the plotters were Muslim with Muslim names. Of the numerous attempts, only one, Richard Reid had a non Muslim name, although he did admit that he was a member of Al Qaeda.
6. Fact. The full body scanners may not detect explosives such as the underwear bomber carried. (GAO report April 2010)
7. Fact. Michael Chertoff’s consulting firm represents Rapiscan, a company that recently sold TSA 15 million dollars worth of full body scanners. Michael Chertoff used to be the head of Homeland Security.
8. Fact. Tom Blank, the former Deputy Director of TSA, now works for Wexler and Walker, a lobby firm that represents American Science and Engineering, that manufactures another full body scanner.
9. Fact. The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits un-reasonable search of person and property of U.S. citizens.
I’m not going to hop on my soap box here and offer my solution to this controversy. I know what I would do, but I’m not in charge. The facts speak for themselves. You draw your own conclusions. I do know that since I do fly often, that if given a choice of the scanner or the pat down, I will elect the pat down, and politely inform the TSA agent that he is violating my Constitutional rights as he performs his search of my person.
JP
4 comments:
The most ridiculous aspect of the controversy is the TSA's (and Homeland Security's) continuing rejection of any "profiling" methods for airline security. Profiling is a time-tested, very effective approach to crime prevention and crime solving. We're told that a perp can blow a hole in the side of an airplane with a packet of powdered explosive no bigger than a restaurant sugar packet. I doubt that the scans and pat-downs are sufficient to detect such a small quantity of explosive material, especially considering the places where these perps are likely to secrete it on their persons.
As the Romans used to say, Cui Bono? Numbers 7 & 8 partially answer that one. OSI Systems own Rapiscan, and guess who owns 11,300 shares of OSI? Georgie Soros, Obama backer (some say owner) No. 1.
Bob Mack
The TSA is not the only federal gang training Americans to submit to invasions of their Constitutional rights and that "Resistance is futile.". The only difference is that the Border Patrol thugs are using physical violence as inducement to obey them.
Check out the videos of the criminal abuse of a Baptist pastor by Border Patrol at an Arizona highway stop 50 miles from the Mexican border.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Border+patrol+Baptist+preacher&aq=f
Several videos on the incident.
One thought that you should carry away from these incidents is that the Feds seem to be preferentially hiring people who:
~Are poorly educated.
~Have no concept of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
~Obviously have a propensity to flaunt their new found authority against mere citizens.
Lots of minority folks with attitudes, for instance. "Got a grudge against Whitey? Here, put on this badge & uniform and vent your anger legally and draw a paycheck while you're at it."
It's as though they'd hire Crips and Bloods if they thought they could get away with it.
Aram
"The people always get the government they deserve."
Unknown author
I'm flying to AZ on Friday or Sat. I'll let you know how it goes. See if my actions match my rhetoric.
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